Chess puzzles for Saturday, 18 September 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 103... f1=Q.
Puzzle rating 1035
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
104. Qd2#
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/8/2K3Q1/4kq2 w - - 0 104
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 39... hxg5.
Puzzle rating 1553
Hint
Theme: deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
40. Qxg5+ Kf8 41. Qh6+ Ke8 42. Qh8+ Kd7 43. Ra7+ Rc7 44. Qxb8 Rxa7 45. Qxa7+
FEN: 1rr5/4ppk1/3p4/3P2pQ/R7/1p5P/6P1/5qBK w - - 0 40
Hard: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 34... Kf7.
Puzzle rating 2203
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, sacrifice
Show solution
35. Rxf5+ gxf5 36. Bh5+ Kg8 37. Re8#
FEN: 8/3r1k1p/r2p2p1/3R1p2/PbP2P2/1q3BPP/1B2R1K1/8 w - - 2 35