Chess puzzles for Monday, 9 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 14. Qxb4.
Puzzle rating 737
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
14... Nc2#
FEN: r2qk2r/pp1b1p1p/5p2/8/1Q1n4/8/PP1NPPPP/3RKB1R b Kkq - 0 14
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 31. Rh7.
Puzzle rating 1428
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
31... Kg6 32. Rxf7 Kxf7
FEN: 4r3/2p2p1R/1p6/p2p1k2/3P3P/2P5/PP1K4/8 b - - 2 31
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Qa7+.
Puzzle rating 2662
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, quiet move, defensive move
Show solution
34. Kg2 Qxa6 35. Rb2 Qc6+ 36. Kh3 Qf3 37. b8=Q
FEN: 8/qP3pkp/N3p1p1/p7/5P2/6P1/P6P/1R4K1 w - - 5 34