Chess puzzles for Saturday, 19 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 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 5. Bxd8.
Puzzle rating 1158
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, opening tactic
Show solution
5... Bxf2#
FEN: rnbBk2r/pppp1ppp/8/2bPp3/4n3/7P/PPP1PPP1/RN1QKBNR b KQkq - 0 5
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Rd6.
Puzzle rating 1858
Hint
Theme: skewer, quiet move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23. Nh5 Kf8 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Qxa8
FEN: r5k1/p4p1p/2prbQ2/5p2/5N2/q2B4/P1P3PP/R6K w - - 8 23
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 14... Nxe4.
Puzzle rating 2555
Hint
Theme: defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
15. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 16. Nxe4 Re8 17. O-O-O
FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp2ppp/8/8/4nq2/2P2N2/PP1NQ1PP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 15