Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 23 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 61... Kg6.
Puzzle rating 1210
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, dovetail mate, queen and rook endgame
Show solution
62. Qxf7#
FEN: 4KQ2/5p2/4p1kp/4r1r1/8/8/6p1/8 w - - 2 62
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 38. Kd3.
Puzzle rating 1450
Hint
Theme: zugzwang, endgame tactic
Show solution
38... Bxe3 39. Kxe3 Kf5 40. Kf2 Kf4
FEN: 8/8/2p1k3/1p1p2pp/p2P1b2/P1PKNP1P/1P6/8 b - - 1 38
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... hxg5.
Puzzle rating 2576
Hint
Theme: deflection, exposed king, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. Qxg5+ Kf8 27. Qd8+ Qe8 28. Qxd6+ Qe7 29. Qb8+
FEN: 6k1/1p3r2/p2bq3/3pp1pN/8/3P1r2/PP1Q1P1P/6RK w - - 0 26