Chess puzzles for Saturday, 18 July 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 13... Nxa5.
Puzzle rating 748
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, opening tactic
Show solution
14. Nc7#
FEN: r3kbnr/1b2pppp/p7/n2N4/2p1P3/4B3/1P3PPP/3RKBNR w Kkq - 0 14
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 25... Nxd5.
Puzzle rating 1745
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
26. Qxe8+ Kxe8 27. Ra8+ Qb8 28. Rxb8#
FEN: 4rk2/R3ppbp/6p1/2pn4/Q6P/6PB/1q3P2/4R1K1 w - - 0 26
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 22. Rad1.
Puzzle rating 2286
Hint
Show solution
22... Rxf2 23. Qb8+ Kg7 24. Qe5+ Qxe5 25. Rxe5 Rd2+ 26. Kf1 Rxd1+
FEN: 6k1/Q4p1p/6p1/2pq4/3b4/P7/1r3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 2 22