Chess puzzles for Saturday, 26 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 62. Rab1.
Puzzle rating 1146
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Pillsbury’s mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
62... Rh1#
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/5bk1/7r/1RR2K2 b - - 9 62
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 38. Qxf7.
Puzzle rating 1831
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
38... Rh1+ 39. Kxh1 Qh3+ 40. Kg1 Qg2#
FEN: 8/5Qpk/p6p/8/P2B2q1/4PpP1/1P3P1r/3R2K1 b - - 0 38
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 42. Rc1.
Puzzle rating 2613
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, attacking f2/f7, advanced pawn
Show solution
42... Rd2+ 43. Ke1 Rxf2 44. Bxf2 d2+
FEN: 8/3k4/6p1/P1B5/1P6/3p3P/1rr2PP1/2RK4 b - - 4 42