Chess puzzles for Thursday, 1 July 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 27. f4.
Puzzle rating 1266
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Rxe4 28. Nxe4 Rxe4
FEN: 4r3/2q2pkp/5np1/pR1nr3/P2QNP2/2P3N1/6PP/5RK1 b - - 0 27
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 27... Qxa2.
Puzzle rating 1584
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, sacrifice
Show solution
28. Qf7+ Kh8 29. Qf8+ Rxf8 30. Rxf8#
FEN: 1r4k1/2pQ2pp/4p3/8/2P5/2P5/qr4PP/2R2R1K w - - 0 28
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 34. g4.
Puzzle rating 2080
Hint
Theme: promotion, en passant, advanced pawn
Show solution
34... fxg3 35. Rhf7 g2 36. Rxf5 g1=Q
FEN: 1r4k1/3R3R/8/ppp2npP/5pP1/P7/1KP5/8 b - g3 0 34