Chess puzzles for Thursday, 5 February 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 41... Rfe8.
Puzzle rating 964
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
42. Nxf6+ Qxf6 43. Qxf6
FEN: 4r1k1/3Nr1pp/4Pp1q/1p1p4/pPn5/5Q1P/6R1/5R1K w - - 4 42
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 21... Bf5.
Puzzle rating 1719
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
22. g3 Qxf3 23. Nxf3
FEN: 4r1k1/1p3pp1/p1n2n1p/3p1b2/P1pP1q2/2P2N1P/1PBN1PP1/R4QK1 w - - 3 22
Hard: Black to move and mate in 5
Black to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 22. Qg4.
Puzzle rating 2147
Hint
Show solution
22... Qxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Rc2+ 24. Kxg3 Rg2+ 25. Kf4 g5+ 26. Qxg5+ Bxg5#
FEN: 5rk1/1b2bppp/ppr1p3/3qB3/3P2Q1/4P1nP/PP4PN/1B1R1RK1 b - - 4 22