Chess puzzles for Thursday, 19 February 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 6. Bg5.
Puzzle rating 971
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
6... Bxg5 7. Nxg5 Qxg5
FEN: rnbqk2r/pppp1ppp/4pbn1/6B1/4N3/3P2P1/PPP1PPBP/R2QK1NR b KQkq - 6 6
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 16... f5.
Puzzle rating 1714
Hint
Theme: en passant, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. exf6 Qxh2+ 18. Qxh2
FEN: r1b1r1k1/1pq1b1pp/p3p3/3pPpB1/6n1/P1NB3Q/1PP2PPP/R3R1K1 w - f6 0 17
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Qxd4.
Puzzle rating 2046
Hint
Theme: fork, intermezzo (zwischenzug), capturing the defender
Show solution
24. Bxf6 Nxf6 25. Qxd4 cxd4 26. Rxf6
FEN: 2brr1k1/pp1n1p1p/3p1bp1/2p3B1/3qP3/1P3RNP/P1B3P1/R2Q3K w - - 0 24