Chess puzzles for Monday, 19 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 16... Bf6.
Puzzle rating 1262
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Rh5#
FEN: r2qr3/pp3Qpk/1np2b2/3pR3/3P4/2P4P/PP1N1PP1/R5K1 w - - 1 17
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 47. Bf5.
Puzzle rating 1689
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, bishop endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
47... g3+ 48. Kxh3 g2 49. Be4+ Kxe4
FEN: 8/p7/8/P1p2B2/2P3p1/5k1p/7K/8 b - - 3 47
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 2439
Hint
Theme: quiet move, en passant, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. Qxf5 Qd8 21. Qf4 d5 22. exd6
FEN: rnb2r2/ppqp1Nkp/2p3p1/4Pn2/2B1Q3/2P4P/PP3P2/R3K2R w KQ - 3 20