Chess puzzles for Friday, 2 January 2026
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 39. Rf8.
Puzzle rating 870
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
39... c2 40. Rxg8 c1=Q+
FEN: 5Rb1/6Pp/p6P/1p6/8/2pk4/6P1/6K1 b - - 1 39
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 27... Qg6.
Puzzle rating 1732
Hint
Theme: kingside attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
28. Qd8+ Kh7 29. Ng5+ Qxg5 30. Qxg5
FEN: 6k1/2p2pp1/p5q1/1p2p2p/4Pn2/P1P2N1P/1P3PP1/3Q2K1 w - - 1 28
Hard: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 28. Qc6.
Puzzle rating 2048
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, Anastasia’s mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
28... Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Qxh2+ 30. Nxh2 Rxh2+ 31. Kxh2 Rh8#
FEN: 2kr3r/2p5/1pQpp1p1/3P4/4Pnpq/2PR1p2/1P3PPP/R4NK1 b - - 4 28