Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 14 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 24... cxd4.
Puzzle rating 1239
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, sacrifice
Show solution
25. Ng6+ hxg6 26. Rh4#
FEN: 3r1r1k/pp1nNBpp/8/b7/P2pPR2/8/1P4PP/3R2K1 w - - 0 25
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Qc5+.
Puzzle rating 1661
Hint
Theme: defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Bf2 Qa3 20. fxg4 Rb2 21. Qc1
FEN: 1r3rk1/p4p2/2p4p/2q1p1p1/4Pnb1/2PB1PB1/P1Q3PP/3R1RK1 w - - 1 19
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 30. Qxd7.
Puzzle rating 2049
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, sacrifice
Show solution
30... Qh2+ 31. Kf1 Qh1+ 32. Bxh1 Rxh1#
FEN: 1k6/pPpQ4/3p2nr/3Pp3/1P2P3/5bq1/P4RB1/2R3K1 b - - 0 30