Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 17 March 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 26... Ng7.
Puzzle rating 914
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, kingside attack
Show solution
27. Qf8+ Qxf8 28. Rxf8#
FEN: r1bq3k/5Qn1/p2p2Bp/1p2r3/8/P1N4P/1PP3P1/5RK1 w - - 1 27
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 17... Qf6.
Puzzle rating 1608
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, deflection
Show solution
18. hxg7+ Kxg7 19. Rh7+ Kxh7 20. Qxf6
FEN: rn6/pp3ppk/2p2q1P/3pr3/2P3P1/2P1PQ2/P4P2/R3K2R w KQ - 1 18
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 26... Kb8.
Puzzle rating 2253
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, queenside attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
27. Bb5 Nc6 28. Bxc6 dxc6 29. Ra8+ Kb7 30. R3a7#
FEN: 1k1r3r/R1pp1p2/1p2p2p/4P1p1/1n1P4/R4P1P/2P2P1K/5B2 w - - 2 27