Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 19 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 8... Qxb5.
Puzzle rating 795
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
9. Nc7#
FEN: r1b1kb1r/pp2pppp/2n5/1q1N4/1P1QnB2/8/P1P2PPP/R3K1NR w KQkq - 0 9
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 50... Nf8.
Puzzle rating 1887
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
51. Ke7 Ng6+ 52. Kxf7
FEN: 5n2/5pp1/3Kp2p/3p2k1/8/4PP1P/4N1P1/8 w - - 13 51
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Ng3.
Puzzle rating 2401
Hint
Show solution
23. Qxg3 Nh5 24. Re4 Nxg3 25. Rxe8+ Qf8 26. Rxf8+
FEN: r1b1r1k1/5ppp/2pq1n2/p7/1pPP1R1Q/1P2pNnP/PN2B1P1/5RK1 w - - 4 23