Chess puzzles for Thursday, 8 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 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 11. Bxg7.
Puzzle rating 730
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
11... Qxf2#
FEN: r3k2r/pp2ppBp/1qnp2p1/8/2P1n1bP/1P3N2/P1PNBP2/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 11
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 75... Nxc4+.
Puzzle rating 1659
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, endgame tactic
Show solution
76. Kb3 Kd4 77. Bxc4
FEN: 8/8/3p4/1BpP4/2n5/3k4/1K6/8 w - - 0 76
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 18. b4.
Puzzle rating 2004
Hint
Theme: fork, attraction (decoy), middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Nb3 20. Nxe4 Nxd4 21. Nxg5 Nxe2+
FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4bp/6p1/2nP1pq1/1PPNp3/P1N1P1P1/3QB2P/R4RK1 b - - 0 18