Daily chess puzzle - hints and answers for Thursday, November 5, 2026
This chess puzzle comes from a Blitz game on Lichess between krishnaind (1,526) and Suppenkraut (1,579). White to move, and the position holds a decisive tactic for white. Lichess rates the puzzle 1,984, which sits in our Hard band. Work the ladder below: the board first, then hints that give away a little more with each step down the ladder.
Step 1 - The setup
From a Blitz game (5+0) on Lichess between krishnaind (1,526) and Suppenkraut (1,579). The position comes 21 half-moves into the game, right after Black played Nxe3. White to move.
Puzzle from a real game played on Lichess (CC0): krishnaind (1,526) vs Suppenkraut (1,579). Play it on Lichess · See the full game
Step 2 - The idea
What kind of tactic is hiding in the position.
The theme is mate in 4: checkmate is forced in four moves.
Step 3 - The piece
Which piece makes the key move.
Your rook is the piece that starts the tactic.
Step 4 - The first move
The first move of the line, in standard notation.
Rh8+ - the rook moves from h1 to h8 with check.
Step 5 - The solution
The full line, move by move - and a stepper that walks the board through it.
11. Rh8+ Kxh8 12. Qh5+ Kg8 13. Qxf7+ Kh8 14. Qh5# - 7 moves.
The line ends in checkmate.