Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 17 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 6... f6.
Puzzle rating 1167
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
7. Qh5+ g6 8. Nxg6
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pbpp2pp/1p2pp2/4N3/3Pn3/P3P3/1PPN1PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 7
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 12. Qg7.
Puzzle rating 1897
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
12... Rh7 13. Qxh7 Nxh7
FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp1bpQ1/3ppn1p/8/2BPP2N/2N3P1/PPP3PP/R4RK1 b kq - 2 12
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 17... Rxf1+.
Puzzle rating 2129
Hint
Show solution
18. Rxf1 Qxg2+ 19. Qxg2 Bxg2 20. Bf7+ Kf8 21. Kxg2
FEN: rn4k1/1b5p/p3p1B1/1p1q4/3P4/2P1P3/P1Q3PP/R4rK1 w - - 0 18