Chess puzzles for Monday, 23 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 46. Kxh4.
Puzzle rating 892
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
46... Rh8+ 47. Rh7 Rxh7#
FEN: 1r6/5R2/k2N1p2/3Pp3/4PbPK/P4P2/8/8 b - - 0 46
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 21. b5.
Puzzle rating 1813
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
21... Qxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Rh5+ 23. Kg3 Nf5+ 24. Kg4 Rh4#
FEN: 5rk1/1pp1n1p1/pb1p3p/1P2pr2/P3Nq2/2PP1P2/2N1Q1PP/R4R1K b - - 0 21
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 32... Nxc2.
Puzzle rating 2486
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
33. Ne5 a3 34. Nxc6+ Ka4 35. Re4+ Bd4 36. Rxd4+ Nxd4 37. Rb4#
FEN: r6r/1R1N2b1/p1p4p/k5p1/p7/8/2n2PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 33