Chess puzzles for Friday, 4 December 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 18... Bc5.
Puzzle rating 1199
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Qxf7#
FEN: 2r1k2r/Q4ppp/1pp2n2/2b3N1/2P5/P3P3/1P3q1P/2KR2R1 w k - 1 19
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. gxf4.
Puzzle rating 1864
Hint
Theme: deflection, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28... Rxf4 29. Be2 Rg4+ 30. Bxg4 Qxd3
FEN: 5rk1/pp5p/3p1rp1/PP1Pp3/5P1P/3Q1B1q/1BR2P2/6K1 b - - 0 28
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 54. Kg1.
Puzzle rating 2387
Hint
Theme: queen and rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
54... Qc5+ 55. Rf2 Qxf8 56. Rxf8 Kxf8
FEN: 5R2/6k1/5R2/p2q2p1/8/1P6/8/6K1 b - - 9 54