Chess puzzles for Monday, 23 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 25... Rxg8.
Puzzle rating 1076
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. Nf7#
FEN: 3r2rk/pp4pp/2n4N/4RP2/8/2P5/1q3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 26
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 49. d7.
Puzzle rating 1763
Hint
Theme: quiet move, advanced pawn, knight endgame
Show solution
49... g3 50. Nd4 Nd8 51. Kd5 g2
FEN: 8/3P1pp1/4n3/1N2P3/1PK3p1/8/5k2/8 b - - 0 49
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 41... Kxa5.
Puzzle rating 2048
Hint
Theme: rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
42. Ra2+ Kb6 43. Ra8 Kxb7 44. Rxf8
FEN: 5r2/1P6/4p2p/k2pPp2/8/6P1/5RKP/8 w - - 0 42