Chess puzzles for Monday, 27 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 25. Qxb2.
Puzzle rating 1183
Hint
Theme: deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
25... Re1+ 26. Rxe1 Qxb2
FEN: 4r1k1/5pbp/6p1/1q6/3P4/6P1/1Q3PBP/1R4K1 b - - 0 25
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 13... Qd4.
Puzzle rating 1489
Hint
Theme: interference, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14. Re4 Qf6 15. Rxg4
FEN: r4k1r/ppp2ppp/2pb4/8/3q2b1/3B2P1/PPPP1P1P/R1B1RQK1 w - - 1 14
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. Kf1.
Puzzle rating 2446
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Rh1+ 32. Ke2 Rxe1+ 33. Kxe1 Qg1+ 34. Ke2 Rxf4
FEN: 2k2r1r/6p1/pq4p1/1p1PP3/1Pp2Pp1/P1N5/2QR2P1/4RK2 b - - 2 31