Chess puzzles for Friday, 1 October 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 42. Kh3.
Puzzle rating 957
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
42... Qh1#
FEN: 1Q6/5p1k/2q3p1/4Q2p/7P/6PK/5P2/8 b - - 2 42
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 27. b4.
Puzzle rating 1873
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Bxc3 28. Bxc3 Rxf4
FEN: 5qk1/ppp2r2/3p3p/2nP2p1/1PPb1PP1/P1Np1Q1P/3B2K1/4R3 b - - 0 27
Hard: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 22... Bxb4.
Puzzle rating 2200
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, discovered check
Show solution
23. Bd7+ Kxd7 24. Rc7#
FEN: 2kr1q1r/1p4p1/p1B2n2/7p/1b1p1B2/6PP/PP3P2/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 23