Chess puzzles for Monday, 7 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 9... Kxf7.
Puzzle rating 1115
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, dovetail mate, opening tactic
Show solution
10. Qxe6#
FEN: r2q1bnr/pp1n1kpb/2p1p2p/8/2B5/6N1/PPPPQPPP/R1B1K2R w KQ - 0 10
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 27. Re2.
Puzzle rating 1831
Hint
Theme: clearance, en passant, endgame tactic
Show solution
27... Rh5 28. f4 exf3 29. Ref2 Re2
FEN: 4r3/2Q3pk/p6p/P5r1/4p3/2P3Pq/1P2RP1P/5RK1 b - - 2 27
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 33... g5.
Puzzle rating 2050
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
34. Rxg5+ Kh8 35. Rg8+ Kxg8 36. Qg3+ Kh8 37. Qg7#
FEN: 5rk1/5p2/pp3P1p/2p3p1/6R1/P3Q2P/1q4P1/6K1 w - - 0 34