Chess puzzles for Friday, 23 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 33... Qxd4.
Puzzle rating 1170
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Rh7+ Kg8 35. Qf7#
FEN: r6k/2pQR3/2p3rp/p2p4/3q4/7R/2P2PPP/6K1 w - - 0 34
Medium: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 30. Ke3.
Puzzle rating 1458
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30... Qf4#
FEN: r1b5/ppp3pp/3k4/4p2Q/1q5P/3BK3/P3R3/4R3 b - - 10 30
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 32. Qxd5.
Puzzle rating 2163
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
32... f3 33. Kg1 Qh3 34. Qxf3 Rxf3
FEN: 8/p5pk/8/3QPr1q/5p2/6P1/P2B1P2/1R3K2 b - - 0 32