Chess puzzles for Thursday, 17 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 27... Qd8.
Puzzle rating 961
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
28. Be6+ Kb8 29. Qxd8#
FEN: r1kq3Q/ppp4p/2p5/8/2B1P3/3P4/PPP5/5bK1 w - - 5 28
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 25... dxc3.
Puzzle rating 1805
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
26. Rh5+ Kg8 27. Qh7#
FEN: 1r1q1r2/1pp2bpk/p7/5R2/2P1Q3/2p3P1/PP5P/R5K1 w - - 0 26
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 23. Rf2.
Puzzle rating 2625
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, discovered check
Show solution
23... Rhg8 24. Bf1 Kf6+ 25. Bg2 Bh2+ 26. Kf1 Rxg2
FEN: 3r3r/1Q3p1p/3b2k1/3P1p2/3p4/3B1P1q/PP3R2/R1B3K1 b - - 1 23