Chess puzzles for Friday, 9 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 12. Bd3.
Puzzle rating 931
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, opening tactic
Show solution
12... Qxf2#
FEN: rn2k2r/ppp2ppp/5n2/2b2q2/8/P1NB4/1PPN1PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 1 12
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 22... Rxe7.
Puzzle rating 1538
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
23. Qe8+ Rxe8 24. Rxe8+ Qf8 25. Rxf8#
FEN: r1b4k/pp2r1pp/3q1b2/2p4Q/8/3P2P1/P1R2PBP/4R1K1 w - - 0 23
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. bxc6.
Puzzle rating 2495
Hint
Theme: quiet move, en passant, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Rhg8 22. Qb7+ Kd8 23. c7+ Qxc7 24. d4 exd3
FEN: 2k4r/p4Q2/P1Pq4/2b1pP1p/4pn2/2P5/3P2rP/RNBB1R1K b - - 0 21