Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 18 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... Qxa1.
Puzzle rating 945
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, hanging piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
42. Rxa1#
FEN: r1r5/k4p1p/6pP/6P1/1Q1PPP2/1p2K3/1Pp5/q3R3 w - - 0 42
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 53. Kc5.
Puzzle rating 1610
Hint
Theme: pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
53... g4 54. fxg4 f3
FEN: 3k4/8/2P5/p1K3p1/Pp3p1p/1P3P1P/8/8 b - - 2 53
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Bh6.
Puzzle rating 2523
Hint
Theme: promotion, exposed king, advanced pawn
Show solution
34. d7 Bf4 35. Qd3+ Kh6 36. d8=Q Bxg3+ 37. Kxg3 Qg6+ 38. Qxg6+
FEN: 8/5q1k/Q2P3b/4p3/3p4/5PRP/P5PK/2r5 w - - 1 34