Chess puzzles for Friday, 4 September 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 9. dxc5.
Puzzle rating 897
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, opening tactic
Show solution
9... Nxe5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8
FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp1nppbp/5np1/1BP1N3/8/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 9
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 47. Qxf2.
Puzzle rating 1893
Hint
Theme: capturing the defender, endgame tactic
Show solution
47... Qxf2 48. Rxf2 Rxe3
FEN: 4r1k1/5p2/6p1/8/1p6/1P2N2p/2P1qQ1P/5R1K b - - 0 47
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 53... Kf8.
Puzzle rating 2378
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, exposed king, queen and rook endgame
Show solution
54. Re8+ Kf7 55. R6e7+ Kf6 56. g5+ Kf5 57. Rf7#
FEN: 5k2/1p2R3/2p1R1pK/2P5/r5P1/7P/2r4q/8 w - - 4 54