Chess puzzles for Thursday, 16 September 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 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 14. Bc4.
Puzzle rating 965
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Qxf2#
FEN: 2bk3r/qpNp1ppp/2nB4/4p3/1pB1n3/8/PPP2PPP/R2QK2R b KQ - 1 14
Medium: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 36... R2xe3.
Puzzle rating 1850
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, deflection, intermezzo (zwischenzug)
Show solution
37. Rxa6+ bxa6 38. Qxc6+ Nb7 39. Rxa6+ Kb8 40. Qc7#
FEN: k3r3/1p3p2/pPpn2qp/8/8/R1Q1r1PP/5P2/R5K1 w - - 0 37
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 27. Rg4.
Puzzle rating 2167
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Qa7+ 28. Re3 Qxe3+ 29. Kh1 Qc1#
FEN: 5r1k/6qp/p1p1p1B1/1p2b2Q/4P1R1/3R3P/PP4P1/6K1 b - - 5 27