Chess puzzles for Sunday, 1 February 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 16. Nfd4.
Puzzle rating 730
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, kingside attack
Show solution
16... Nxf2#
FEN: r2q2rk/pp1b1pb1/4p2p/3p1p2/3Nn3/1NP1P3/PPB2PPP/R2Q2RK b - - 5 16
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Ng4.
Puzzle rating 1711
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, discovered check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... f3+ 18. Kg1 Bxg4
FEN: r1b3k1/1pp3pp/p2b1r1q/2pP4/4PpN1/2BP3P/PP3PPK/R2Q1R2 b - - 2 17
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Rf8.
Puzzle rating 2565
Hint
Theme: pin, attacking f2/f7, endgame tactic
Show solution
29. Bh3 Kd7 30. Re1 Ke8 31. Bxe6 Rxf7 32. Bxf7+
FEN: 2k2r2/pp2nN2/4r3/3p3p/5P2/1P6/P5BP/3R1K2 w - - 2 29