Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 14 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 57... Kh5.
Puzzle rating 1153
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, deflection, sacrifice
Show solution
58. g4+ Kxh4 59. Rxh6#
FEN: 8/8/2R4p/6nk/3b3B/7P/3r1PP1/6K1 w - - 6 58
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 39. h4.
Puzzle rating 1771
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
39... Nxb3 40. Kxb3 Kc5 41. Kc3 Kb5
FEN: 8/1p3p2/3k2p1/P1np3p/7P/1NK1PP2/6P1/8 b - - 0 39
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... c2.
Puzzle rating 2337
Hint
Theme: pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. fxg5+ Kxg5 47. Kd2 c1=Q+ 48. Kxc1
FEN: 8/p7/1p3k1p/1P2pPp1/P3PP2/7P/2p1K3/8 w - - 0 46