Chess puzzles for Friday, 23 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 26. Kxf1.
Puzzle rating 966
Hint
Show solution
26... Rc1#
FEN: 1kr5/pp4Qp/4p3/1R2Pp2/P4P2/8/r5PP/5K2 b - - 0 26
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 51... Kh4.
Puzzle rating 1815
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, endgame tactic
Show solution
52. Rh6+ Kg5 53. Nf7#
FEN: 8/8/6R1/4Np2/5p1k/1K1P1B2/2r2P2/q7 w - - 3 52
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Rcf1.
Puzzle rating 2030
Hint
Theme: fork, deflection, X-ray attack
Show solution
24... Be3+ 25. Kh1 Qxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 27. Kg2 Rf2+ 28. Kh3 Rxb2
FEN: 4rrk1/2p3pp/2Pp4/Q3pRb1/2P1P3/PP4Pq/1B5P/5RK1 b - - 3 24