MentoChessGet the app

Chess puzzles for Friday, 30 January 2026

Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.

Easy: Black to move and win

h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8

Black to move and win. The opponent just played 50. Ke3.

Puzzle rating 730

Hint

Theme: skewer, endgame tactic

Show solution

50... Rc3+ 51. Kf4 Rxh3

FEN: 8/8/2B2p2/1Pk5/2r4p/4K2R/7P/8 b - - 7 50

Medium: Black to move and mate in 2

h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8

Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31. Qb2.

Puzzle rating 1780

Hint

Theme: mate in 2, clearance, sacrifice

Show solution

31... Rd1+ 32. Nxd1 Qf1#

FEN: 6k1/5p1p/4p1p1/8/2q5/RRNrbP2/1Q4PP/7K b - - 2 31

Hard: White to move and win

a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

White to move and win. The opponent just played 29... Bxd5.

Puzzle rating 2618

Hint

Theme: discovered check, double check, deflection

Show solution

30. Nd4+ Kf7 31. Qh5+ Kf8 32. exf6

FEN: 2q3r1/p3p3/4kp2/3bPN2/2n1p1Q1/2r5/P5PP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 30