Chess puzzles for Friday, 26 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 20... Kxh8.
Puzzle rating 1192
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, endgame tactic
Show solution
21. Qh3+ Kg8 22. Qh7#
FEN: r4r1k/1pq3p1/2pbp1p1/p3P1N1/8/2P1PQ2/PP4P1/2K5 w - - 0 21
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 49. Rxd3.
Puzzle rating 1808
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, X-ray attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
49... g4+ 50. fxg4 Bxg4#
FEN: 8/8/7R/P5p1/7P/3R1P1K/5kr1/3b4 b - - 0 49
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. Kd2.
Puzzle rating 2200
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... e3+ 41. Kxe3 a3 42. Kd2 a2
FEN: 5b2/1k6/3pBBpp/3P4/p2Pp3/6P1/3K3P/8 b - - 1 40