Chess puzzles for Friday, 18 June 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 27... Kg6.
Puzzle rating 1276
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, epaulette mate, deflection
Show solution
28. Qf6+ Kh7 29. Qxf7#
FEN: 3r3r/3N1p2/3bp1kp/1p1p4/3Q2Pp/5P2/PPq5/1R3RK1 w - - 4 28
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 8. Qb5.
Puzzle rating 1648
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, opening tactic
Show solution
8... Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. hxg3 Qxh1
FEN: r2qkb1r/p1pn1ppp/4p3/1Q2Pb2/4n3/5P2/PPPP2PP/RNB1KBNR b KQkq - 1 8
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Be4.
Puzzle rating 2018
Hint
Theme: fork, pin, capturing the defender
Show solution
19. Nxe4 Qxe4 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. Bxd5+ Kf8 22. Bxe4
FEN: r3q1k1/1pp3pp/p1nb1n2/3p2B1/3Pb3/1BP2Q2/PP1N1PPP/R5K1 w - - 8 19