Chess puzzles for Friday, 16 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 42... Rxd7.
Puzzle rating 723
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, fork
Show solution
43. Ra8+ Rd8 44. Rxd8#
FEN: 6k1/3r1pp1/8/R6p/4B3/n3P1PP/1p3P2/6K1 w - - 0 43
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. f5.
Puzzle rating 1820
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20... Be8 21. Qxe6 Bf7 22. Qxf7 Rxf7
FEN: 3k1b1r/2rb1Qp1/1pn1p2p/p2pPP2/3p4/8/PPPB2PP/4RRK1 b - - 0 20
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Rab8.
Puzzle rating 2283
Hint
Theme: pin, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24. Nf6+ Kh8 25. Nxh7
FEN: 1r3rk1/pQ3ppq/2pPb2p/2P1pn1N/8/2P1B3/P1B1KP1P/6R1 w - - 1 24