Chess puzzles for Thursday, 29 April 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Rd6.
Puzzle rating 949
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, rook endgame
Show solution
43. Rxd6+ Kxd6 44. Kd4
FEN: 8/8/2Rrk3/p4p2/1p3P2/1P2K3/P7/8 w - - 2 43
Medium: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 19... Nxe2.
Puzzle rating 1541
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
20. Qxf8+ Kxf8 21. Rxf7+ Ke8 22. Rf8+ Ke7 23. R3f7#
FEN: r1b2rk1/p2p1ppp/2pQp3/4P1q1/5R2/2N1PR2/PPPKn3/8 w - - 0 20
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 29... Bh4.
Puzzle rating 2251
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
30. Bg3 Rxe2 31. Qxe2 h6 32. Bxh4
FEN: 2r1r1k1/1p3ppp/p5q1/P3B3/1P4nb/2P2Q2/3NR1PP/4R1K1 w - - 1 30