Chess puzzles for Monday, 2 November 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 51. Bd4.
Puzzle rating 901
Hint
Theme: skewer, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
51... Bxe5 52. Bc5 Bxc3
FEN: 8/2p3b1/p7/4Pk2/1P1B1p2/2P2K2/8/8 b - - 4 51
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. gxh4.
Puzzle rating 1825
Hint
Theme: skewer, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20... Rg6+ 21. Kf2 Rg2+ 22. Ke1 Rxd2
FEN: r2q3k/1b1pn1pp/p2Bp2r/1p2Pp2/5P1P/1BN5/PPPQ3P/3R1RK1 b - - 0 20
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 29... Ra2.
Puzzle rating 2588
Hint
Theme: quiet move, endgame tactic
Show solution
30. Rb8+ Kg7 31. Nf5+ Kg6 32. Rb6+ f6+ 33. Rxf6+ Kh5 34. h3 g4 35. Rh6+ Kg5 36. h4#
FEN: 6k1/5p1p/3N4/3pK1p1/p7/P3P3/r5rP/1R6 w - - 2 30