Chess puzzles for Sunday, 15 August 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 21. Nxh5.
Puzzle rating 1016
Hint
Theme: fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Ne2+ 22. Kh2 Nxf4
FEN: r4rk1/pp2qp2/2p3p1/7N/P1NnPQ2/1P5P/2P2PP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 21
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 21... Nxg4.
Puzzle rating 1637
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, clearance
Show solution
22. Bf7+ Qxf7 23. Rh8#
FEN: rn3rk1/pbp1q3/1p6/6NB/2p2bn1/1P5R/PB4PP/R5K1 w - - 0 22
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 38. Rxg7.
Puzzle rating 2284
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, attraction (decoy), endgame tactic
Show solution
38... Ra1+ 39. Kh2 Qf4+ 40. Rg3 Rh1+ 41. Kxh1 Nxg3+ 42. fxg3 Qxb4
FEN: r6k/2R3R1/7p/4ppq1/1Q2n3/7P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 38