Chess puzzles for Thursday, 11 November 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 7... Nd7.
Puzzle rating 1040
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, pin
Show solution
8. Nd6#
FEN: r1bqkbnr/pp1npppp/2p5/8/4NB2/3P4/PPP1QPPP/R3KBNR w KQkq - 2 8
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 30. Bxa6.
Puzzle rating 1450
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, deflection
Show solution
30... Bf3+ 31. Kf1 Rxh1#
FEN: 4r2r/2b3k1/B7/4np2/5Nb1/P2PB1P1/1PP2PK1/1R5R b - - 0 30
Hard: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 43... Ke5.
Puzzle rating 2406
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
44. Qe3+ Kf6 45. Qd4+ Re5 46. Qh4+ Kg7 47. f6+ Bxf6 48. Qh7#
FEN: 5r2/3qbp2/p2p3Q/1pr1kP2/8/P6P/1P4PK/1B6 w - - 6 44