Chess puzzles for Sunday, 2 August 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 41... Kh6.
Puzzle rating 1213
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
42. g5#
FEN: 8/2p2r1p/1p4pk/p2PQ3/2P3P1/1P1q1B1P/P1n3K1/8 w - - 8 42
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 26. Kf1.
Puzzle rating 1799
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26... Qh1+ 27. Nxh1 Rxh1#
FEN: r4k1r/1p3p2/p3b3/3p4/3Q4/P2B1pN1/1P3P1q/2RR1K2 b - - 5 26
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Nf5.
Puzzle rating 2128
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, deflection
Show solution
17... Qxf5 18. exf5 Rxg2+ 19. Kh1 Rxf2+
FEN: 3r2rk/pp1q1p1p/2bp1p2/4pN2/2P1P3/3Q3P/PP3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 4 17