Chess puzzles for Thursday, 1 October 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 17. gxh3.
Puzzle rating 1113
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Qxh3#
FEN: r4rk1/ppN2ppp/3p4/3P4/2P1Pp2/3B2qP/PP3b2/R2Q1R1K b - - 0 17
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Nxe5.
Puzzle rating 1532
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23. fxe5 Rxf1 24. Bxf1
FEN: r4rk1/1b4p1/p3p2p/1p2n2P/3p1PR1/P2B4/1PP5/2KN1R2 w - - 0 23
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Qd6.
Puzzle rating 2177
Hint
Show solution
20. Qe5 Qxe5 21. Nxe5 Be6 22. Rxc5
FEN: 5rk1/1p3ppp/p2q4/2b5/P5b1/1P3N2/1B2QPPP/2R3K1 w - - 2 20