Chess puzzles for Saturday, 3 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 56. Kb4.
Puzzle rating 1094
Hint
Theme: skewer, endgame tactic
Show solution
56... Rb3+ 57. Kc5 Rxb8
FEN: 1R2b3/4P3/R7/3p1p1k/pK1P1P2/r7/8/8 b - - 5 56
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 34. Qc5.
Puzzle rating 1635
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
34... Rb1+ 35. Kxb1 Rd1#
FEN: 1r6/4p1kp/2R2bp1/2Q5/P2r3P/8/P1P3P1/2K5 b - - 6 34
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. Rxf5.
Puzzle rating 2473
Hint
Theme: skewer, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20... Qh7 21. Qxg4 Qxh2+ 22. Kf1 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Qxa1
FEN: 2kr3r/ppq5/3b4/2p2R2/3P2p1/P5P1/1PPN1P1P/R2Q2K1 b - - 0 20