Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 6 January 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 30. Kxf3.
Puzzle rating 978
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, endgame tactic
Show solution
30... Qg3+ 31. Ke2 Qe3#
FEN: 3r2k1/5pp1/3p3p/1p1Q4/4PpPq/1P3K1P/P7/3R1B2 b - - 0 30
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 33... Qg6.
Puzzle rating 1817
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
34. Qf8+ Rxf8 35. gxf8=Q#
FEN: 2r3k1/ppr3Pp/4PQq1/3p2N1/3P1R2/P1P5/7P/6K1 w - - 1 34
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 25... Kxh4.
Puzzle rating 2366
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, clearance, endgame tactic
Show solution
26. Qf4+ Kh5 27. Kf2 Qxg5 28. Rh1+ Qh4+ 29. Rxh4#
FEN: r7/1p2qp1p/p2p2p1/2pPr1P1/P1P1P2k/2N2Q2/1P6/5RK1 w - - 0 26