Chess puzzles for Friday, 18 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 17... Ke6.
Puzzle rating 951
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
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18. Bc4#
FEN: r6r/1p2bppp/p1n1k3/4Pp2/5B2/2P5/P3BPPP/R2R2K1 w - - 4 18
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... b2.
Puzzle rating 1435
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, promotion, advanced pawn
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38. Kxd2 b1=Q 39. d8=Q
FEN: 8/3PR1p1/5pkp/8/4P3/6P1/1p1r3P/4K3 w - - 0 38
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 24... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 2507
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
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25. Rc7+ Kh8 26. Rxh7+ Kxh7 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Qh6#
FEN: r4r2/6kp/2R1Q1p1/pp2p3/4P3/1P1P4/1q3P1P/5KR1 w - - 2 25