Chess puzzles for Thursday, 15 April 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18... Kxh7.
Puzzle rating 750
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Anastasia’s mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Rh5#
FEN: r1b1nr2/4Nppk/p1pp4/1p2pPR1/3nP3/1B1P4/PPP4P/R3K3 w Q - 0 19
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 28. Rdd1.
Puzzle rating 1633
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
28... N4g3+ 29. hxg3 Qh5#
FEN: 8/Q5pk/7p/4pPq1/4n3/8/P3n1PP/3R1R1K b - - 4 28
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. Kc2.
Puzzle rating 2437
Hint
Theme: deflection, defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
31... Qc6+ 32. Kb1 Rxd3 33. e6+ Kg8
FEN: 3r3k/5p1p/p3q1p1/1p2PbQ1/5P1P/1P1P4/PBK5/3R4 b - - 5 31