Chess puzzles for Friday, 11 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 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 29. Rxf7.
Puzzle rating 925
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, back-rank mate, X-ray attack
Show solution
29... Qxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: 5rk1/1Q3Rp1/4p2p/p3P3/2q5/8/P5PP/5R1K b - - 0 29
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 24. Bc4.
Puzzle rating 1766
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, back-rank mate, sacrifice
Show solution
24... Qf2+ 25. Kh1 Qf1+ 26. Bxf1 Rxf1+ 27. Rxf1 Rxf1#
FEN: 5rk1/1b3rpp/p7/3P4/P1BQp2q/4R3/1P4PP/4R1K1 b - - 2 24
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Kb7.
Puzzle rating 2268
Hint
Theme: skewer, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Bc6+ Kc7 35. Qd7+ Kb6 36. Qd8+ Kxc6 37. Qxa5
FEN: 4Q3/pk6/8/q2pp3/B3P3/P4Kp1/2P3P1/7r w - - 3 34