Chess puzzles for Monday, 19 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 15. Qf5.
Puzzle rating 1192
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, opening tactic
Show solution
15... Nh4 16. Qg4 Nxg4
FEN: 1r1q1rk1/1p3pp1/p1pp1nnp/2b1pQ2/4P3/P2P3P/BPP2PPN/R1B2R1K b - - 1 15
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 27... Kh8.
Puzzle rating 1823
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), sacrifice, kingside attack
Show solution
28. Qxe5 Qxe5 29. Nf7+ Kg8 30. Nxe5
FEN: 3r1r1k/4q1pp/p2N4/1p1Qnp2/4p3/2P3P1/PP3P1P/3R1RK1 w - - 6 28
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 39. Rxf7.
Puzzle rating 2197
Hint
Theme: defensive move, queen and rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
39... Qxf7 40. Rxf7 Kxf7 41. Kd3 h5
FEN: 8/R4Rp1/6kp/3pP3/3P4/2P2q2/2K5/8 b - - 0 39