Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 4 February 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 30... Qh2.
Puzzle rating 936
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, sacrifice
Show solution
31. Qe8+ Rxe8 32. Rxe8#
FEN: 1r3k2/3B1pp1/3p1b2/pPp4p/P7/5P1P/1P2QP1q/4RK2 w - - 6 31
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Nxb1.
Puzzle rating 1863
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24. Qb5+ Qc6 25. Ra7+
FEN: 3r3r/1Qqkbpp1/4p3/4P2p/3pPP2/5NPP/2P3B1/Rn4K1 w - - 0 24
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Kxh4.
Puzzle rating 2116
Hint
Theme: skewer, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
43. Qh6+ Kg4 44. Qh5+ Kf4 45. Qh4+ Ke5 46. Qxg3+ Kf6 47. Qxc7
FEN: 2b2Q2/2q5/1p2p1B1/pP1p4/2P4k/3P2r1/5K2/8 w - - 0 43