Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 23 June 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 16. Nbd2.
Puzzle rating 1273
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
16... Qc5+ 17. Kh1 Qxf5
FEN: r3k2r/1bqpnp2/1p3b1p/5B2/8/2P2N2/PP1N2PP/R2QR1K1 b kq - 1 16
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Qxe5.
Puzzle rating 1812
Hint
Theme: pin, skewer, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. hxg6 hxg6 37. Rxg6+ Kf8 38. Rg8+ Ke7 39. Rxc8 Qe4+ 40. Qxe4+
FEN: 2r3k1/p4p1p/6p1/2p1qp1P/2Q5/2P5/PP1r1PR1/6RK w - - 0 36
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. Be4.
Puzzle rating 2048
Hint
Theme: skewer, sacrifice, exposed king
Show solution
31... Rxe4 32. fxe4 Qh1+ 33. Kf2 Qxb1
FEN: 4r1k1/Qp3p1p/3P2p1/2P4r/4B2q/2P2P2/P5R1/1R4K1 b - - 6 31