Chess puzzles for Friday, 31 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 38. h4.
Puzzle rating 966
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
38... gxh4 39. Bxc1 h3
FEN: 8/5p2/7B/1p2k1p1/6PP/1P1K4/8/2b5 b - - 0 38
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 23. Rd2.
Puzzle rating 1445
Hint
Theme: deflection, attraction (decoy), interference
Show solution
23... Ra3+ 24. Kc2 Rxa2+ 25. Kd1 Ra1+ 26. Nc1 Rxc1+ 27. Kxc1 Ra1+
FEN: r7/1pk2p2/1pp3p1/7p/r1P1p2P/1KP3P1/P2RNP2/7R b - - 4 23
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 51. Kc5.
Puzzle rating 2020
Hint
Theme: bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
51... a3 52. bxa3 b3 53. axb3 cxb3
FEN: 8/8/8/2K5/ppp3k1/2P5/PP3BP1/8 b - - 1 51