Chess puzzles for Saturday, 31 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 27... Kxb6.
Puzzle rating 978
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, dovetail mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
28. Qc5#
FEN: 2Q5/1p2r3/pk2p1B1/3p4/1p1P4/8/q1Pn1PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 28
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 38... Kd6.
Puzzle rating 1557
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame
Show solution
39. Kc4 Kc6 40. a4
FEN: 8/8/3k2p1/p1p3p1/5p2/PPK2P1P/6P1/8 w - - 2 39
Hard: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 26... Rd7.
Puzzle rating 2032
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27. Rb8+ Kc7 28. Rc2#
FEN: 2k5/B2rbp2/p2p3p/4p3/6b1/5Nr1/P4RP1/1R2K3 w - - 2 27