Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 9 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 15... c6.
Puzzle rating 1265
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, sacrifice, queenside attack
Show solution
16. Rxc6+ bxc6 17. Ba6#
FEN: 2kr3r/pp1n1p1p/2p3p1/3p4/3P1B2/3BP3/PP1K1PPP/2R5 w - - 0 16
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Re1.
Puzzle rating 1762
Hint
Theme: fork, deflection, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
17... Rh1+ 18. Kxh1 Nxf2+ 19. Kh2 Nxd1
FEN: 3rk2r/p4pp1/3qp1p1/3p4/6n1/2P2NP1/PP3PP1/R2QR1K1 b k - 1 17
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 50. c5.
Puzzle rating 2038
Hint
Theme: pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
50... Kf6 51. c6 Ke7 52. c7 Kd7
FEN: 8/8/8/p1P3kp/3K4/1P6/8/8 b - - 0 50