Chess puzzles for Sunday, 4 October 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 62... Qec2.
Puzzle rating 1229
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
63. Qfc8+ Ka7 64. Qa8#
FEN: 6Q1/1kp4K/1p1p4/3PpQ2/4P3/7P/2q5/2q5 w - - 7 63
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 44. Ke2.
Puzzle rating 1623
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
44... c3 45. bxc3 a3
FEN: 8/8/5p1p/3k4/p1pp4/6N1/1PP1KPP1/8 b - - 1 44
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Qxc6.
Puzzle rating 2611
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, sacrifice
Show solution
24... Bxh3 25. Qxf3 Bh2+ 26. Kxh2 Bg4+ 27. Kg1 Bxf3
FEN: 1b1r2k1/p4ppp/2Q1b3/P7/2PP3q/2B2p1P/1P3PP1/R4BK1 b - - 0 24