Chess puzzles for Friday, 21 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 13... dxe5.
Puzzle rating 1183
Hint
Show solution
14. Qxd7 Nxd7 15. Bxe7
FEN: r4rk1/1p1qbppp/p3pn2/4p1B1/3Q4/2N5/PPP2PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 14
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 67... Kg8.
Puzzle rating 1602
Hint
Theme: deflection, interference, rook endgame
Show solution
68. Kg6 Kf8 69. Rc8+ Ke7 70. Kxg7
FEN: 6k1/3r2p1/5p1p/2R1pK1P/6P1/5P2/8/8 w - - 13 68
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. cxd5.
Puzzle rating 2047
Hint
Theme: fork, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
21... Qxe5 22. Qxe5 Nf3+ 23. Kg2 Nxe5
FEN: 5rk1/1r3p1p/b3p1pb/pN1PB1q1/B6n/6P1/PP2QP1P/3RR1K1 b - - 0 21