Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 8 December 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 6. Ke2.
Puzzle rating 722
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, opening tactic
Show solution
6... Qf2#
FEN: rnb1kb1r/pppp2pp/8/4Pp2/4n2q/3B1P2/PPP1K1PP/RNBQ2NR b kq - 2 6
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 18. Ne4.
Puzzle rating 1531
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, pin, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
18... Rh1+ 19. Kxh1 Qh8+ 20. Bh5 Qxh5+ 21. Kg1 Qh2#
FEN: r2q3r/pp2kp2/5p2/2b1p3/Q3N3/2PP2p1/PP2BPP1/R4RK1 b - - 1 18
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... Kd5.
Puzzle rating 2606
Hint
Theme: pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Kxf5 c6 39. Kf4 Ke6 40. Kg5
FEN: 8/2p5/1p6/3k1p1p/1PpP1K1P/2P5/8/8 w - - 4 38