Chess puzzles for Thursday, 20 August 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 36. Bb3.
Puzzle rating 1182
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, discovered check
Show solution
36... Nf4+ 37. Kg3 Rg2#
FEN: 8/p6k/5p1p/1b3Nb1/1P2P1P1/1B3P2/P1r1n1K1/3R3R b - - 3 36
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 30... Qd4.
Puzzle rating 1815
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
31. Rxh7+ Kxh7 32. Qh5+ Kg7 33. Rf7#
FEN: 6rk/pp3R1p/8/3Q4/3q2r1/P2p4/1P4PP/5R1K w - - 1 31
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 46. Qxe6+.
Puzzle rating 2274
Hint
Theme: en passant, endgame tactic
Show solution
46... Kxe6 47. Kh3 Kd7 48. g4 fxg3 49. Kxg3 Kc6
FEN: 8/1p6/1P1pQk2/4p3/4Pp2/5P2/6PK/8 b - - 0 46