Chess puzzles for Thursday, 24 September 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... f5.
Puzzle rating 1056
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. Rh4 Qxh4 21. gxh4
FEN: 2r2rk1/1pp3pp/p2b4/3Ppp2/4R3/P5Pq/1PP2P1P/R1BQ2K1 w - - 0 20
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 28. Qxd3.
Puzzle rating 1612
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, smothered mate, sacrifice
Show solution
28... Qg1+ 29. Rxg1 Nf2#
FEN: 6k1/pb3ppp/1q1p4/8/N7/PP1Q1P1n/6PP/1R3R1K b - - 0 28
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Bxa4.
Puzzle rating 2009
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Bg5 g6 20. Bxf6
FEN: r3k2r/2p2pp1/pp1p1q1p/n3nP1Q/b3P3/2PBBN2/2P3PP/1R3R1K w kq - 0 19