Chess puzzles for Friday, 14 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 18... hxg6.
Puzzle rating 705
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Qxg6#
FEN: rn2qrk1/ppp2N2/3pPpp1/3n4/6b1/8/P1QN1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 19
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 34. Kd3.
Puzzle rating 1699
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, endgame tactic
Show solution
34... Qd2+ 35. Kc4 Qd4+ 36. Kb3 Rb2+ 37. Ka3 Qb4#
FEN: 2Q5/6pk/4p3/1P2p1q1/4P3/3K4/6r1/2R2R2 b - - 2 34
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Bb7.
Puzzle rating 2257
Hint
Theme: clearance, intermezzo (zwischenzug), sacrifice
Show solution
20. Nf6+ gxf6 21. Rg4+ Kh8 22. exf6
FEN: r4rk1/pbp1q1pp/1p2p3/n3P3/2PRN3/P7/1B2QPPP/5RK1 w - - 2 20