Chess puzzles for Friday, 30 July 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 24. Rb3.
Puzzle rating 1131
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
24... Rd1+ 25. Ke2 Re1#
FEN: 7k/1b5p/2p3p1/2B2p2/PPB1p3/1Rb5/3r1PPP/5K2 b - - 2 24
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Ke6.
Puzzle rating 1470
Hint
Theme: interference, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Rg6+ Kd5 35. Kxd2
FEN: 3r4/p6R/4k3/1pp1Pn2/5PR1/2P5/PP1r4/2K5 w - - 3 34
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 13. dxe5.
Puzzle rating 2222
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
13... Qxe3+ 14. Kb1 O-O-O
FEN: r3k2r/pp1nppbp/1q4p1/3QP3/5P2/4B2P/PPP3P1/2KR1B1R b kq - 0 13