Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 28 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 27. Qxa8.
Puzzle rating 962
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Qxc2#
FEN: Q7/p4Bb1/2pR2pk/2n2b1p/5P2/2P4P/P1P3q1/2KR4 b - - 0 27
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 27... Bxd4.
Puzzle rating 1829
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28. Nc6+ Kd7 29. Re7#
FEN: 3k1r2/1Bp5/p2p3p/1p2N3/3b4/P7/1P3q1P/1K1RR3 w - - 0 28
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Rxg7.
Puzzle rating 2262
Hint
Theme: quiet move, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
28... c2 29. Re7 Rd1+ 30. Re1 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Rd8 32. Kf1 Rd1+ 33. Ke2 Rxc1
FEN: 3r3r/6Rp/1k3p2/2p5/8/2p2N2/5PPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 28