Chess puzzles for Sunday, 25 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 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 32. Ra8.
Puzzle rating 1034
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, epaulette mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
32... Rxe1+ 33. Kg2 Rg1#
FEN: R7/1pk3pp/1Np2p2/2P1p1n1/1P2P3/5nP1/5P1P/1r2NK2 b - - 4 32
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 36. cxb4.
Puzzle rating 1402
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
36... axb4 37. g6 hxg6#
FEN: 8/6pp/2p5/p4kPK/1P5P/1P6/8/8 b - - 0 36
Hard: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23. Kg2.
Puzzle rating 2280
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23... Qh2+ 24. Kf3 Qh3#
FEN: 2k5/1pp2p1p/p1nb3p/8/Q1P1Pq2/8/PP2BPK1/2R2R2 b - - 5 23