Chess puzzles for Thursday, 15 July 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and hold the draw
Black to move and hold the draw. The opponent just played 19. Rxd7.
Puzzle rating 722
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
19... Qxd7 20. Qxd7+ Kxd7
FEN: 3qk2r/3Rbpp1/1p2p2p/p1p1P3/Q1P5/2N1P3/PP4PP/R5K1 b k - 0 19
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 39... Rh1.
Puzzle rating 1428
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered check, double check
Show solution
40. dxe6+ Kxe6 41. Qd5+ Ke7 42. Qxh1
FEN: 8/2pk1p1p/4p1p1/3P4/2P2q2/3Q4/4B3/3KB2r w - - 2 40
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Ne5.
Puzzle rating 2531
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24. Bxb6 Nxf3+ 25. Kh1 Qe7 26. Qxf3
FEN: 2kr3r/B1q4p/1ppb4/4n1p1/1P3pP1/5B2/P4Q1P/R2R2K1 w - - 2 24