Chess puzzles for Thursday, 26 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 36... Qb3.
Puzzle rating 877
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
37. Qf8#
FEN: 8/7p/6pk/6p1/pQ4P1/1q6/1P3P2/6K1 w - - 2 37
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 39. Kxg7.
Puzzle rating 1593
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
39... Kxa3 40. Nc6 Kb2
FEN: 8/2n3K1/7p/8/pN6/P2P2PP/1kP5/8 b - - 0 39
Hard: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 28... Ne4.
Puzzle rating 2239
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, fork, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. Rxh1 Qe5 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qxf7#
FEN: 3rr3/5pk1/p2q2p1/6P1/3pnp2/1B6/PPP4Q/2KR3b w - - 1 29