Chess puzzles for Thursday, 12 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 34... Rxd7.
Puzzle rating 882
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
35. Rxd8+ Rxd8 36. Rxd8#
FEN: 2Rr2k1/pp1r1ppp/8/1P6/P4b2/6NP/6K1/3R4 w - - 0 35
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 29... Bb4.
Puzzle rating 1740
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30. Nxf6+ Kf7 31. Rxe8
FEN: 3rr1k1/p5pp/5p2/n4b2/1bPPN3/1P3N2/4RPPP/4R1K1 w - - 2 30
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 38. Qxf6.
Puzzle rating 2285
Hint
Theme: discovered attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
38... Qxc3+ 39. Ke2 d3+ 40. Kf3 Qxf6
FEN: 3r4/1pp5/2qkpQ2/7P/3p1P2/2P1P1P1/3K4/R6R b - - 0 38