Chess puzzles for Friday, 16 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 17. Ng1.
Puzzle rating 744
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Qxf2#
FEN: r3k2r/p2n1ppp/2p2q2/4p3/6b1/2B1P2n/PP2BPPP/R2QRKN1 b kq - 1 17
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 22. Nd2.
Puzzle rating 1807
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22... Bd5 23. Ba3 Bxf7 24. Bxd6 Bxd6
FEN: r2k1b2/p2p1Qp1/1p1q2p1/4p3/4bp2/2P5/3N2PP/R1B2R1K b - - 1 22
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... g5.
Puzzle rating 2342
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, sacrifice, kingside attack
Show solution
20. Rxg5+ fxg5 21. Bxg5 Qxg5 22. Qxg5+
FEN: r3r1k1/p1p4p/1p1p1p1B/3R2p1/5QPq/4P2P/PbP2PK1/3R4 w - - 0 20