Chess puzzles for Friday, 16 October 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Kg2.
Puzzle rating 1091
Hint
Theme: fork, endgame tactic
Show solution
30... Ne3+ 31. Qxe3 Qxe3
FEN: 5k2/pp3ppp/4p3/3p4/1Pn2q2/2P3P1/P3QnKP/R2R4 b - - 2 30
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. Kg3.
Puzzle rating 1711
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20... g5 21. Kh2 Qxh4
FEN: 5rk1/pp3pp1/1pp4p/7q/4Pn1B/5PKP/P1P2P2/1R1Q1R2 b - - 6 20
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Qg3.
Puzzle rating 2414
Hint
Theme: pin, capturing the defender, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30... Qxg3 31. fxg3 Bc5 32. c3 Nxc3 33. Kh2 Bxd4
FEN: 2k4r/p1q1b3/2p1p3/1p1n1p2/3N2p1/1P1P2QP/P1P2PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 1 30