Chess puzzles for Thursday, 10 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 28... Rxc3.
Puzzle rating 1235
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Rf8#
FEN: r3n1k1/5R1p/p3q1pB/1p6/2p1P3/P1r5/1P4PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 29
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 36. Rff7.
Puzzle rating 1617
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, queenside attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
36... Nxd2+ 37. Kc1 Qa1#
FEN: 1k1r4/pp3RR1/2p1Q1P1/4p2p/3qn3/1P6/P1PP4/1K6 b - - 4 36
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 53. Kf5.
Puzzle rating 2470
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
53... g4 54. hxg4 hxg4 55. Ke4 g3 56. Kf3 e4+ 57. Kxe4 g2 58. Rxd4 g1=Q
FEN: 8/8/1p6/1P2pKpp/3b3k/3R3P/8/8 b - - 1 53