Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 18 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 31. Bxc3.
Puzzle rating 705
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, double-bishop mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Qxc3+ 32. Qxc3 Bxc3#
FEN: r6k/5pbb/p4q2/1p6/8/NPB3Q1/P6P/K5R1 b - - 0 31
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 42. Qd7.
Puzzle rating 1684
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
42... Ra6+ 43. Ke7 Re5+ 44. Kd8 Ra8+ 45. Kc7 Ra7+
FEN: 8/3Q1pkp/3K2p1/5rN1/2Pp3P/1P6/8/r7 b - - 2 42
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 57. Ng2.
Puzzle rating 2514
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
57... Kg5 58. Ne3 Kf4 59. Kf2 g3+
FEN: 8/8/6k1/4p3/6pp/8/6N1/6K1 b - - 1 57