Chess puzzles for Saturday, 21 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 51... Kf5.
Puzzle rating 753
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
52. Qe4#
FEN: 4Q3/8/5p2/5kq1/3p4/5P1K/8/8 w - - 5 52
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Rxc6.
Puzzle rating 1888
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24... Rd5 25. Rc5 Qxb5 26. Rxb5 Rxb5
FEN: 3rq3/p4pbk/1nR3pp/1Q2p3/8/3PP1P1/R2N1P1P/6K1 b - - 0 24
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... Qc5.
Puzzle rating 2520
Hint
Theme: fork, attraction (decoy), interference
Show solution
26. Bxg7+ Kxg7 27. Qe5+ Kf7 28. Qxf5+ Kg7 29. Qg5+ Bg6 30. Qxd2
FEN: 5r1k/pp4pp/4Q3/2qN1p1b/8/7P/PB1r1PP1/R5K1 w - - 9 26