Chess puzzles for Friday, 11 September 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 44. b5.
Puzzle rating 723
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
44... Bc4+ 45. Kg1 Re1#
FEN: 4r1k1/1BQ2pp1/4b2p/1PB5/8/8/5PPP/5K2 b - - 0 44
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 16... Rhg8.
Puzzle rating 1567
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Qa8+ Kd7 18. Bb5+ Kd6 19. Qc6#
FEN: 2kr2r1/p1p1qppp/1p2pn2/2n5/2B5/3P1Q1N/PBP4P/2KR4 w - - 1 17
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 16... Nxg2.
Puzzle rating 2100
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Kxg2 Bh3+ 18. Kg3
FEN: 2b2rk1/r1p2pp1/p2p1q1p/np1Pp3/4P3/N1P2N2/PPBQ1PnP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 17