Chess puzzles for Sunday, 22 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 8. Nd5.
Puzzle rating 1208
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, opening tactic
Show solution
8... Nf3#
FEN: r1b1k2r/pp1pbppp/5n2/q1pNp3/2PnP3/3P2P1/PP1BNP1P/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 4 8
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 30... Qa7.
Puzzle rating 1756
Hint
Theme: deflection, attraction (decoy), interference
Show solution
31. Rxd8+ Kxd8 32. Qxf8+ Kc7 33. Qxf7+
FEN: 1R1bkr2/q4pQp/4p1p1/3pP3/2p5/7P/2nB1PP1/6K1 w - - 1 31
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 17... Bc2.
Puzzle rating 2032
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Qxe7
FEN: 2kr2nr/pp2b1pp/2qB1p2/8/8/4Q3/PPb1P1PP/2R1KBNR w K - 7 18