Chess puzzles for Friday, 18 December 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Qxf2.
Puzzle rating 1150
Hint
Show solution
28... Bxd3+ 29. Kb3 Qxf2
FEN: 3r2k1/pp4pp/8/8/2b1P3/2PN2qP/PPK2QP1/3R3R b - - 0 28
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 20. Kc1.
Puzzle rating 1563
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, exposed king, queenside attack
Show solution
20... Ba3+ 21. Kd2 Qb2+ 22. Ke3 Qe2#
FEN: r1b3k1/2p4p/3ppB1Q/pqb1p1N1/3nP3/2PP4/5PPP/2KR3R b - - 2 20
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 32... Nc5.
Puzzle rating 2468
Hint
Theme: fork, attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
33. Qxf7+ Kd8 34. Qf8+ Qe8 35. Qd6+
FEN: r3k3/p4p1p/8/1pnpq3/6P1/2P2Q2/P6r/2RK1R2 w q - 7 33