Chess puzzles for Sunday, 25 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 40. b4.
Puzzle rating 963
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... Qf1#
FEN: 8/5p1k/6pp/8/1P6/P1Q2P2/4q2P/7K b - - 0 40
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. h3.
Puzzle rating 1727
Hint
Show solution
31... d3+ 32. Kh2 dxc2 33. Qe8+ Kh7
FEN: 7k/pr4p1/R5Qp/2q1Pp2/2Pp1P2/7P/2P3P1/6K1 b - - 0 31
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 27... Rc8.
Puzzle rating 2552
Hint
Theme: skewer, deflection, exposed king
Show solution
28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Qg4+ Ke7 30. Qxc8
FEN: 2r2r2/p2k1pp1/2R4p/3n4/3P4/q7/5PPP/2RQ2K1 w - - 2 28