Chess puzzles for Saturday, 17 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 37... Qxe2.
Puzzle rating 965
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, dovetail mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Rd8+ Kg7 39. Qf8#
FEN: 6k1/1p5p/p2Rp1p1/P1p1n3/4r3/2P5/1P2qQ2/R5K1 w - - 0 38
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... Qxa3.
Puzzle rating 1514
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Qh8+ Ke7 39. Qe8+ Kd6 40. Qd8+
FEN: 5k2/p4p2/1p3p2/1B2nP1Q/1P6/q7/6KP/8 w - - 0 38
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 32. Ra1.
Puzzle rating 2488
Hint
Theme: exposed king, middlegame tactic
Show solution
32... Qa3+ 33. Kc2 Rb8 34. Kd1 Qxb3+ 35. Qc2 Qb1+ 36. Rxb1 Rxb1+
FEN: r6k/5R2/3p1n2/2p4P/q1PpP3/1N1P4/pK2QP2/R7 b - - 2 32