Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 11 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 22. Kg2.
Puzzle rating 994
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22... Rg1#
FEN: 6k1/ppp2ppp/8/2bN3r/5P2/3B1RP1/PPP3KP/R1B1r3 b - - 2 22
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 26. Rhe1.
Puzzle rating 1402
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
26... Ra1+ 27. Kxa1 Qa5+ 28. Kb1 Qa2+ 29. Kc1 Qa1#
FEN: 6k1/p1q2ppp/3p4/1P4P1/rnP2P2/3P3P/1P1Q4/1K1RR3 b - - 2 26
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 26. Qxb5.
Puzzle rating 2383
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
26... Qb1+ 27. Bf1 Qe4
FEN: 6k1/pb2pp2/1b4p1/1Q3q2/7p/P1R1P1P1/1P2BP1P/6K1 b - - 0 26