Chess puzzles for Sunday, 20 December 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... gxf4.
Puzzle rating 984
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame
Show solution
43. gxf4 Kd6 44. Kd4
FEN: 8/8/p1k5/P4p2/2K2p2/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 43
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Nxd4.
Puzzle rating 1847
Hint
Theme: deflection, middlegame tactic
Show solution
24... Bxd4 25. Qxd4 Re1+ 26. Rxe1 Qxd4
FEN: 1r2r1k1/q4ppp/p2p1b2/3P4/2PN4/P2Q4/1P3PPP/1R1R2K1 b - - 0 24
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 18. f4.
Puzzle rating 2339
Hint
Theme: en passant, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... exf3 19. Bxf3 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Bxf3
FEN: r5k1/ppprbpp1/2b4p/4P3/4pPP1/2B4P/PPP3B1/1K1R3R b - f3 0 18