Chess puzzles for Sunday, 26 September 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 40. Kb5.
Puzzle rating 1145
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, rook endgame
Show solution
40... a2 41. Rxc3 a1=Q
FEN: 2R5/5kpp/8/1K6/1P6/p1p4P/8/8 b - - 1 40
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 8. Nxd4.
Puzzle rating 1737
Hint
Theme: fork, deflection, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
8... Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxc2+ 10. Kd2 Nxd4
FEN: r1b1kbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2q1P3/1n1N1B2/1P6/P1P1BPPP/RN1QK2R b KQkq - 0 8
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 23... Qxa2.
Puzzle rating 2362
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, Pillsbury’s mate, pin
Show solution
24. Bh6 g6 25. Qxe5 Rxe5 26. Rd8+ Re8 27. Rxe8#
FEN: 4r1k1/pbp2ppp/8/4p1B1/8/2P2PQ1/qP1R1KPP/8 w - - 0 24