Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 22 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 35... Re8.
Puzzle rating 952
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attraction (decoy), endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Rxe8+ Kxe8 37. Rd8#
FEN: 3Rrk2/p4pp1/1pN4p/7q/2p5/P1P3P1/1P1R1PKP/8 w - - 13 36
Medium: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 32... Kg8.
Puzzle rating 1723
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
33. Qg6#
FEN: 5rk1/b7/p7/4Bp1Q/q1r1nP2/PR6/6PP/5K2 w - - 2 33
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 52... f2.
Puzzle rating 2279
Hint
Theme: exposed king, advanced pawn, rook endgame
Show solution
53. Ra7+ Kg8 54. h7+ Kh8 55. Kg6 f1=Q 56. Ra8+ Qf8 57. Rxf8#
FEN: R7/7k/7P/6K1/8/6P1/p4p2/r7 w - - 0 53