Chess puzzles for Sunday, 4 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 32. Qe4.
Puzzle rating 1033
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
32... Bd5+ 33. Kg1 Bxe4
FEN: q4r1k/2p1Nbp1/p6p/8/P3Q3/2PP2PP/1P1B2P1/4RK2 b - - 10 32
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 12. Qxb7.
Puzzle rating 1445
Hint
Theme: fork, interference, middlegame tactic
Show solution
12... Be4 13. d5 Bxh1
FEN: r2qkb1r/pQp2ppp/3p1nb1/8/2PP2P1/1P2P2P/PB3P2/RN2KB1R b KQkq - 0 12
Hard: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 18. gxh4.
Puzzle rating 2215
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Qf4 19. f3 Qxh2#
FEN: 2r2rk1/pp3ppp/3p4/2p1P1q1/P3P1nP/1PP5/1B3PBP/2R1QRK1 b - - 0 18