Chess puzzles for Thursday, 30 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 38... a2.
Puzzle rating 911
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
39. Rh4+ Kg8 40. Rh8#
FEN: 8/5p1k/6p1/4B3/1R6/1bP5/pr3P2/5K2 w - - 0 39
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 53... exf5.
Puzzle rating 1670
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, pawn endgame
Show solution
54. g6 b3 55. g7 b2 56. g8=Q b1=Q 57. Qc8+
FEN: 8/8/8/2k1KpP1/1p6/8/8/8 w - - 0 54
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 52... Kd8.
Puzzle rating 2627
Hint
Theme: exposed king, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
53. Rxa7 Re3+ 54. Kd5 d3 55. Kc6 d2 56. Rd7+ Ke8 57. Rxd2
FEN: 3k4/p4R2/P7/2p2P2/3pKP2/1r6/8/8 w - - 3 53