Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 22 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 20... Qxd5.
Puzzle rating 807
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
21. Qxe7#
FEN: r3k2r/1p2p1b1/p2p2p1/3q2Bp/8/7P/PPP1Q1P1/1K3R1R w kq - 0 21
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 16. Bxd4.
Puzzle rating 1678
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, middlegame tactic
Show solution
16... Qg1+ 17. Ke2 f3+ 18. Ke3 Qg5#
FEN: r3k1nN/ppp3pp/8/3Bp3/1P1BPp2/3P4/P2Q1P1q/RN2K2b b Qq - 0 16
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 12. Qd5+.
Puzzle rating 2272
Hint
Show solution
12... Nd7 13. Qf3 Nf4+
FEN: rn1k1b1N/ppp1qBpp/8/3Qp3/8/2P4b/PP1P1PnP/RNB2K1R b - - 5 12