Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 1 September 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 39... Qxd7.
Puzzle rating 1249
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
40. Qf8+ Rxf8 41. Rxf8#
FEN: 2Rr3k/pp1q2pp/8/8/1Q2P2P/PP6/K7/8 w - - 0 40
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 34. Re2.
Puzzle rating 1538
Hint
Theme: deflection, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
34... g4+ 35. Kxg4 Rxe2
FEN: 8/5p2/p3r1kp/1p4p1/2p5/2P2KP1/PP2RP1P/8 b - - 7 34
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... g5.
Puzzle rating 2456
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Qxc7 Rac8 20. Qd6
FEN: r4rk1/p1p2p1b/1pn4p/2p2Pp1/3pPQPq/P2P3P/1PPN3K/R4R2 w - g6 0 19