Chess puzzles for Saturday, 3 October 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 26... g4.
Puzzle rating 1204
Hint
Theme: discovered check, double check, kingside attack
Show solution
27. Nf6+ Kg7 28. Nxh5+
FEN: r4rk1/1p6/p1n4p/2PN1p1q/3P2p1/1Q3Nb1/P1P3B1/R5K1 w - - 0 27
Medium: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 35... Kd2.
Puzzle rating 1782
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Qe1#
FEN: r7/ppp5/4Q1B1/3p4/3P4/2P2P2/Pq1k2P1/5K2 w - - 8 36
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Rxc4.
Puzzle rating 2386
Hint
Theme: fork, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
24. Rd8+ Kh7 25. Qh4+ Qh5 26. Rh8+ Kxh8 27. Qd8+ Kh7 28. gxh5
FEN: 6k1/1pr2pp1/p3p1p1/2p1q3/2r3P1/P6P/P4Q2/3R1RK1 w - - 0 24