Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 22 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 37... Kf7.
Puzzle rating 737
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, hook mate, epaulette mate
Show solution
38. Rf8#
FEN: 3R4/p3rkpp/1n2N3/5P2/6P1/1P6/P6P/2b4K w - - 1 38
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. dxc5.
Puzzle rating 1500
Hint
Theme: clearance, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Ng4 22. Qe2 Qh4 23. Qxg4 Qxg4
FEN: 3q1r1k/5r1p/pp2pnp1/2P1p3/4P3/2P1Q1N1/PP3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 21
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Qxf5.
Puzzle rating 2264
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, quiet move
Show solution
23. d6+ Kg6 24. dxe7 Rc8 25. Bc7 Qxc2+ 26. Qxc2+ Rxc2+ 27. Kxc2
FEN: 3r4/4bk1p/p4n2/3P1q2/1pQ5/5PB1/PPP3rP/2KR3R w - - 0 23