Chess puzzles for Thursday, 22 January 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 11... dxe5.
Puzzle rating 1072
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, deflection, attacking f2/f7
Show solution
12. Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. Qxd8
FEN: rnbqkb1r/pp2pp2/7p/3Bp3/6p1/8/PPP2PPP/R1BQNRK1 w kq - 0 12
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 36. Ke3.
Puzzle rating 1433
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
36... Re5+ 37. Be4 Rxe4#
FEN: 3r2k1/p1p4p/1p3p2/2r5/5N2/P2BK3/3R1PbP/6R1 b - - 2 36
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Nxe4.
Puzzle rating 2174
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... dxe4 18. Qh5 f4
FEN: 4rrk1/1p1q2p1/p2b3p/3p1p2/3PN3/2P1BQ1P/PP3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 17