Chess puzzles for Monday, 26 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 30... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 883
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Pillsbury’s mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31. Rh7#
FEN: 3rqr2/pp1n2k1/5b1R/2PBp3/1P1p4/P2Q1NP1/6K1/8 w - - 1 31
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Kf6.
Puzzle rating 1624
Hint
Theme: skewer, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Rf7+ Ke5 35. Re1+ Kd5 36. Rxe8
FEN: 4r3/3R4/5kp1/p1p2pNn/2r4P/P4P2/5K2/R7 w - - 2 34
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 43... Bxh4.
Puzzle rating 2366
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
44. Nxh4 Ke3 45. Ng2+
FEN: 8/5ppp/8/P7/2K3Pb/1P6/3kp1N1/8 w - - 0 44