Chess puzzles for Sunday, 11 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 17... Qxf2.
Puzzle rating 1257
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18. Rg8#
FEN: r3k3/pppb1p2/2np4/2bNp3/4P3/3P3p/PPP2q2/R2Q2RK w q - 0 18
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 39. Qxc5.
Puzzle rating 1839
Hint
Show solution
39... Re1+ 40. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 41. Kf2 dxc5 42. Kxe1 Kg8 43. d6 Kf8
FEN: 4r2k/5p1p/3p2pP/2QPr3/5P2/6P1/8/3R2K1 b - - 0 39
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 22. Bxe5.
Puzzle rating 2165
Hint
Show solution
22... bxc2+ 23. Kxc2 Rxa2+ 24. Kc1 Bh6+
FEN: r5k1/1q3pbp/2pQ2p1/4B3/4P3/1p6/P1P3PP/1K1R3R b - - 0 22