Chess puzzles for Sunday, 13 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 37. Rd3.
Puzzle rating 1116
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
37... Qc1#
FEN: 1r3bk1/5ppp/3p4/3Qp1P1/P1B4P/1PKRqP2/8/8 b - - 4 37
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 30. Ke2.
Puzzle rating 1730
Hint
Show solution
30... Qxh3 31. gxh3 Rxf5
FEN: 1k1r3q/pp4p1/5p2/PPN1nR2/2P1Nr2/7Q/4K1P1/R7 b - - 4 30
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... gxf3.
Puzzle rating 2488
Hint
Theme: pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Re4 Qg5 39. Rg4 Kf7 40. Rxg5
FEN: 3r4/8/3p2k1/p1pP1r2/1pP2q2/1P3p2/PQ2RNP1/6K1 w - - 0 38