Chess puzzles for Friday, 28 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 32... Kf5.
Puzzle rating 975
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
33. Qg5#
FEN: r7/6Q1/p3p3/1p3k2/3pq3/4n3/PP4RP/7K w - - 4 33
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 37... Ra2.
Puzzle rating 1720
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, sacrifice
Show solution
38. Qc8+ Nxc8 39. Rxc8+ Qd8 40. Rxd8#
FEN: 6k1/4npp1/1q2p2p/3nP3/1p1PB3/1P4P1/rBQ4P/2R3K1 w - - 2 38
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. f3.
Puzzle rating 2576
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28... Rc7 29. Qxc7+ Kxc7
FEN: 1kr5/p6Q/1p3qpP/3bp3/5n2/3B1P2/PPP3P1/3R1RK1 b - - 0 28