Chess puzzles for Monday, 26 October 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 31... Qxc4.
Puzzle rating 1192
Hint
Theme: pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
32. Bb3 Qf7 33. Bxf7+
FEN: 6k1/p6p/bp4p1/2p1Pp2/2q2P2/P1Q5/6PP/3B2K1 w - - 0 32
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 24... dxe5.
Puzzle rating 1812
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, Pillsbury’s mate
Show solution
25. Qxb8+ Kxb8 26. Ra8#
FEN: Qnk4r/3r3q/1B2bn1b/1P2p3/2P3p1/6P1/3NK1BP/R6R w - - 0 25
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 21... hxg6.
Puzzle rating 2538
Hint
Theme: clearance, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22. Qh6+ Kf6 23. Qh4+ g5 24. Qh6+ Ng6 25. Rh5
FEN: r2q1r2/5pk1/p2p2p1/3bn3/3N2P1/2p2P2/P1P1B3/R1Q1K2R w KQ - 0 22