Chess puzzles for Thursday, 23 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 17... bxc6.
Puzzle rating 706
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18. Ba6#
FEN: 2kr1r2/p2nqpb1/2p1pn1p/6p1/3P2P1/2NB2BP/PPP5/2KRR3 w - - 0 18
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 13... Bxd5.
Puzzle rating 1605
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, attraction (decoy), middlegame tactic
Show solution
14. Qb5+ Bc6 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Qb8+
FEN: 3rkb1r/p3pppp/5q2/3b4/8/3Q1P2/PPP3PP/2KR1B1R w k - 0 14
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 12... Nxe3.
Puzzle rating 2518
Hint
Theme: attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
13. Bb5+ c6 14. Qxf7+
FEN: r2qk2r/pbp1bppp/1p2p3/4P3/8/2NBn3/PPP2QPP/R4RK1 w kq - 0 13