Chess puzzles for Sunday, 16 August 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 54... Kxc5.
Puzzle rating 1056
Hint
Theme: deflection, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
55. Rxa5+ Kxd6 56. Kxb4
FEN: 8/5p2/3P3p/p1k5/1r3p2/2K5/7P/R7 w - - 0 55
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 21... Kf8.
Puzzle rating 1878
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22. Ng6+ Kg8 23. Nf6#
FEN: 1r3k2/1b1R4/1q2p3/1pb1Nn1p/2p3N1/4P3/P1P2PPP/5RK1 w - - 2 22
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Bxd3.
Puzzle rating 2214
Hint
Theme: deflection, interference, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. gxf6 gxf6 21. Nd6+ Bxd6 22. Qxf6+ Ke8 23. Qxh8+
FEN: 2q4r/1p2bkp1/r1n1pn2/pN1p2P1/P7/2Pb3P/1P3QB1/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 20