Chess puzzles for Thursday, 29 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 20... Qg8.
Puzzle rating 1005
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Nf7#
FEN: r1b2Qqk/pp4pp/1np4r/3pNp2/3PnP2/P2BB2P/1P3PP1/R4RK1 w - - 9 21
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 19. Nxg5.
Puzzle rating 1780
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
19... hxg5 20. Bxg5 Rxe5
FEN: r2qr1k1/pp3p2/2p2n1p/2b1P1N1/3pP1PB/7P/PPP1QP2/R4RK1 b - - 0 19
Hard: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 37. g4.
Puzzle rating 2427
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, en passant, endgame tactic
Show solution
37... hxg3+ 38. Kg2 Nh4+ 39. Kxg3 Rg1+ 40. Kh2 Nf3#
FEN: 4r1k1/1R1R4/8/5np1/6Pp/2BP3P/PP3P1K/2r5 b - g3 0 37