Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 42. Ba5.
Puzzle rating 976
Hint
Theme: pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
42... Nxe3+ 43. Kg1 Nxd1
FEN: 8/5ppk/4p2p/B2p4/2nP3P/1N2P1P1/1q3PK1/3Q4 b - - 2 42
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 9... Rxb8.
Puzzle rating 1673
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
10. Qxb4 Qxb4 11. axb4
FEN: 1rb1k2r/pp3ppp/4p3/q1Pp4/1bP5/PQn1P3/1P3PPP/R3KBNR w KQk - 0 10
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 22. Rc8+.
Puzzle rating 2275
Hint
Theme: skewer, X-ray attack, defensive move
Show solution
22... Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Kf1 Qh1+ 25. Ke2 Qxc1
FEN: r1R3k1/p4pp1/1p1r4/8/3P4/1Q2PqPp/P4P1P/2R3K1 b - - 1 22