Chess puzzles for Sunday, 23 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 20... Nxg8.
Puzzle rating 737
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Nf7#
FEN: r1b3nk/pp4bp/1q4pN/8/5P2/2P4P/P1P3PK/R4R2 w - - 0 21
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 35... Kxg5.
Puzzle rating 1744
Hint
Show solution
36. Qh4+ Kf5 37. Qg4#
FEN: 5r2/1p6/p1pp1rp1/4p1k1/1PP1Q3/P3P1K1/8/8 w - - 0 36
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 9. Nd5.
Puzzle rating 2011
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
9... Bxf5 10. Bxf6 gxf6
FEN: rnbqkb1r/1p3ppp/p4n2/3NpNB1/3pP3/P7/1PP2PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 1 9