Chess puzzles for Friday, 24 July 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 42. Bg1.
Puzzle rating 929
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
42... h2 43. Bxh2 Bxh2
FEN: 8/8/p2k4/8/2P2b2/5K1p/P7/6B1 b - - 1 42
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 43... Rc8.
Puzzle rating 1466
Hint
Theme: deflection, attraction (decoy), interference
Show solution
44. Rxc8+ Kxc8 45. Qa8+ Kd7 46. Qxb7+
FEN: 1kr5/1n4qp/Q2p4/1p1N4/3bP2P/PP6/K1R5/8 w - - 1 44
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 41. Qe5+.
Puzzle rating 2072
Hint
Theme: fork, sacrifice, defensive move
Show solution
41... Bd6 42. Nxb4 Qc3+ 43. Kb1 Qxb4+
FEN: 5bR1/2k2p2/2N3p1/3pQP2/1rpP4/r2qP3/P7/K6R b - - 4 41