Chess puzzles for Sunday, 8 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 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 32. Qxe6.
Puzzle rating 962
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, sacrifice
Show solution
32... Qf1+ 33. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: 5r1k/6pp/4Q3/1p6/8/8/P4qPP/4R2K b - - 0 32
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 58. Qxa5.
Puzzle rating 1677
Hint
Theme: fork, endgame tactic
Show solution
58... f4+ 59. Kf3 fxe3
FEN: 8/5bk1/6p1/Q2p1p2/3q3P/1P2R1K1/5P2/8 b - - 0 58
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 24. fxg3.
Puzzle rating 2050
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, fork, discovered attack
Show solution
24... Rxg3+ 25. Kh2 Rxg4+ 26. Bf4 Bxf4#
FEN: 5rk1/p1b3pp/2P3p1/3p4/6P1/4BrPP/PPQ3K1/2R4R b - - 0 24