Chess puzzles for Monday, 28 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 49... Nh4+.
Puzzle rating 988
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, defensive move, knight endgame
Show solution
50. Kf6 Ng2 51. Nf5#
FEN: 8/7p/7k/5Kp1/6Pn/6N1/8/8 w - - 5 50
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. Ne4.
Puzzle rating 1790
Hint
Theme: skewer, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
40... Rxe4 41. Qxe4 Bf5 42. Qc4 Bxc2 43. Qxc2 Qxd5
FEN: 8/p1bqr1kp/5pp1/2PB4/3QNP1P/6Pb/P1R4K/8 b - - 1 40
Hard: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 41... Kf8.
Puzzle rating 2387
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, discovered check
Show solution
42. Bh6+ Kf7 43. e6+ Ke8 44. Rg8#
FEN: 2r2k2/4b3/p5R1/3pPp1B/P2Pb3/4B1Pp/7r/3R1K2 w - - 4 42