Chess puzzles for Sunday, 17 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 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25. Rxd2.
Puzzle rating 1163
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
25... Qxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rxd1#
FEN: r2r3k/pp4b1/5p1p/5Q1N/8/8/P2R1PPP/2qR2K1 b - - 0 25
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 32. Rh4.
Puzzle rating 1867
Hint
Theme: fork, endgame tactic
Show solution
32... Qe2+ 33. Qxe2 Rxe2+ 34. Kf3 Rxd2
FEN: 4r1k1/1p3npp/p7/7q/7R/2PQ2P1/P2B2KP/8 b - - 5 32
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Qd6.
Puzzle rating 2432
Hint
Theme: kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. f4 Bf6 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Bxf6
FEN: r3r1k1/pp3ppp/3q4/3pb1BB/1P1n4/P6P/3Q1PP1/3RR1K1 w - - 2 20