Chess puzzles for Friday, 9 January 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25... Qxg5.
Puzzle rating 1088
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, pin, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
26. Rxg8+ Kxg8 27. Qf8#
FEN: 2b2Rnk/r5rp/p3pQ2/1p4q1/2pp4/P7/BPP3PP/5RK1 w - - 0 26
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. e4.
Puzzle rating 1405
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
28... Kxd3 29. exf5 Bxf5 30. g4 Be4+
FEN: 8/pp5p/2p1b3/5p2/2P1PP2/1PkB1KP1/P6P/8 b - - 0 28
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Qf5.
Puzzle rating 2086
Hint
Theme: quiet move, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
43. Rd2 Qxa5 44. d8=Q Qxd8 45. Rxd8
FEN: 8/1p1P4/p4ppk/P4q1p/7P/3R2P1/5P1K/8 w - - 1 43