Chess puzzles for Sunday, 26 July 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 19. Qxf6.
Puzzle rating 738
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, kingside attack
Show solution
19... Rxf1#
FEN: 3r2k1/2p2p1p/p4Qp1/1pP5/2b5/2P5/PPB2PPP/R1B1rNK1 b - - 0 19
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 26... Rxe1.
Puzzle rating 1452
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27. Qxd8+ Kf7 28. Rxe1
FEN: 3r2k1/1p4pp/pQb1p3/4q3/PP6/4pP2/4R1PP/4rNK1 w - - 0 27
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... Qxe4.
Puzzle rating 2115
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. f3 Qxe2 27. Rxe2
FEN: 3r1r1k/Q2b4/1pp1p3/3p1pp1/2PPq2p/2R3P1/PP2NP1P/4R1K1 w - - 0 26