Chess puzzles for Saturday, 12 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 30... hxg5.
Puzzle rating 1046
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Arabian mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31. Rh3+ Rh7 32. Rxh7#
FEN: 3r3k/1b4r1/ppn1pN2/5pp1/8/PP1P2R1/5PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 31
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 24... h4.
Puzzle rating 1809
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, deflection, sacrifice
Show solution
25. Qc7+ Rxc7 26. Rxd8#
FEN: bBkr4/p2r1p2/P1p1p3/1p3qp1/3R3p/2P3QP/1P3PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 25
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 52. g4.
Puzzle rating 2122
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
52... e3 53. Bc4 e2 54. Bxe2 Rxe2
FEN: 8/8/3p1k1p/1R1Br1p1/3KppP1/7P/8/8 b - - 0 52