Chess puzzles for Monday, 17 May 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 15. bxc3.
Puzzle rating 739
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
15... Qa3+ 16. Qxa3 Bxa3#
FEN: 1k1r1b1r/ppp1qp2/2p5/5bpp/Q2P4/2P1P1BP/P2NBPP1/2KR3R b - - 0 15
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 28. dxe7.
Puzzle rating 1575
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Opera mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
28... Qxh2+ 29. Kxh2 Rh5+ 30. Kg1 Rxh1#
FEN: 5rk1/pp2P1pp/8/2p1Pr1q/2P5/1Q1R1bP1/P4P1P/5RKB b - - 0 28
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 27... Qc4.
Puzzle rating 2262
Hint
Theme: clearance, quiet move, endgame tactic
Show solution
28. Qf6 Qe4 29. Bd4 Qxd4 30. Qxd4
FEN: 4r1k1/5p1p/3pb1p1/3p4/2qQ4/4B1P1/1R2PP1P/6K1 w - - 2 28