Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 59... Kg4.
Puzzle rating 739
Hint
Theme: deflection, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
60. Rxg3+ Kxg3 61. Kxf5
FEN: 8/8/8/p4r2/1p2K1k1/1P4p1/P7/6R1 w - - 2 60
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Bg1.
Puzzle rating 1653
Hint
Theme: pin, intermezzo (zwischenzug), sacrifice
Show solution
28... Ng3+ 29. hxg3 Qh5+ 30. Bh2 Bxg3
FEN: 8/pQ4pk/3b3p/3p1P2/3Pn3/8/4q1PP/1R4BK b - - 4 28
Hard: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 21. Nd2.
Puzzle rating 2204
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, Pillsbury’s mate, discovered check
Show solution
21... Rxg2+ 22. Kh1 Rg1+ 23. Kxg1 Rg8+ 24. Bg5 Rxg5#
FEN: r5r1/p7/1p2kB2/2p1P3/3pb3/8/PPPN1PPP/R4RK1 b - - 1 21