Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 15 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 11... Bxg2.
Puzzle rating 731
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, discovered check, double check
Show solution
12. Nxc7#
FEN: r2qkbnr/p1n1pppp/3p4/1N6/Q7/6P1/PB1PPPbP/RN3RK1 w kq - 0 12
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 10. Bxa4.
Puzzle rating 1408
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
10... Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa4
FEN: rnbqkb1r/1p1p1pp1/7p/3pP3/B2P4/5N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 0 10
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 31... Rxd4.
Puzzle rating 2694
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), quiet move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
32. Rcxd4 Rxd4 33. Qh4 Nd5 34. Rxd4
FEN: 3r4/1p3p1k/2p1p1pP/p3P3/PnRrR3/1P4PQ/5PK1/2Bq4 w - - 0 32