Chess puzzles for Friday, 27 November 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. Nxd4.
Puzzle rating 1188
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, pin
Show solution
8... Nd3#
FEN: r3kbnr/ppp1qppp/8/4n3/2PN2b1/P6P/1P1NPPP1/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 0 8
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 39... c2.
Puzzle rating 1540
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40. g5+ Kh5 41. Rh7#
FEN: 8/5R2/4pPpk/3pP3/3K2P1/6R1/1rp1r3/8 w - - 0 40
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Rb1.
Puzzle rating 2237
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
24... Bg5+ 25. Kd1 Qxb1+ 26. Nxb1 Bxc4
FEN: 1q2k2r/4bppp/p2pb3/8/2Q1P3/P1N3B1/2PK2PP/1R6 b k - 1 24