Chess puzzles for Sunday, 1 November 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 21. Qxb7.
Puzzle rating 1276
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
21... Qxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Rh6#
FEN: 2r4k/pQ4pp/4Nr2/4p3/4P2q/8/PP3bPP/R4R1K b - - 0 21
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 20... Bxf5.
Puzzle rating 1868
Hint
Show solution
21. Qf6+ Rg7 22. Nxf5
FEN: r4nrk/5p1p/p1p4Q/qp3b2/3P3N/1Pb1P3/5P1P/2R2K1R w - - 0 21
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 7... fxg2.
Puzzle rating 2203
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), sacrifice, attacking f2/f7
Show solution
8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Qh5+ Kf8 10. Rxf4+
FEN: rnbqk1nr/pppp1pbp/8/8/2BPPp2/2N5/PPP3pP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 8