Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 30 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 42. Kh3.
Puzzle rating 1178
Hint
Theme: pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
42... Kxf3 43. Kh2 Kxf2
FEN: 8/8/7p/6pP/5k2/5P1K/5P2/8 b - - 2 42
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 29... Rxf7.
Puzzle rating 1687
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, deflection
Show solution
30. Rc8+ Rf8 31. Qe6+ Kh8 32. Rxf8#
FEN: 6k1/2R2rpp/8/p2p4/3P2Q1/2PqP1K1/6PP/1r6 w - - 0 30
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 34. Bd5.
Puzzle rating 2496
Hint
Theme: fork, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
34... Rxd5 35. Rg1 Qf5 36. cxd5 Qh3+ 37. Ke1 Nf3+ 38. Qxf3 Qxf3
FEN: 3r2k1/5p2/1p4p1/p2B2q1/P1P4n/1P2P3/4QP2/5K1R b - - 4 34