Chess puzzles for Friday, 20 November 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 28... dxc5.
Puzzle rating 820
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
29. d6 cxd6 30. c7
FEN: 5k2/2p2ppp/ppP5/2pP4/8/P4P2/1P2K1PP/8 w - - 0 29
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 14. Qxd6.
Puzzle rating 1743
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Nxe2+ 15. Kh2 cxd6
FEN: r4rk1/ppp3pp/2nQ4/4p2b/4Pn2/5N1P/PP2BPP1/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 14
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Rd1.
Puzzle rating 2421
Hint
Theme: kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23. Ra8+ Bf8 24. Rxf8+ Kg7 25. Rd8
FEN: 7k/Rp4bp/2p2pp1/Q7/8/1qP2P2/1P2rBPP/3r1RK1 w - - 2 23