Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 23 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 40. Kf5.
Puzzle rating 945
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... b3 41. Nxb3 Kxb3
FEN: 8/5p2/7p/p1N2Kp1/Pp6/7P/2k2PP1/8 b - - 1 40
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 50. Kg5.
Puzzle rating 1608
Hint
Theme: promotion, advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
50... Nd3 51. h7 Nxb2 52. h8=Q c1=Q+
FEN: 8/8/7P/5pK1/4kn2/P7/1Bp5/8 b - - 1 50
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 27. Qf7.
Puzzle rating 2553
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Qc5+ 28. Rxc5 Rd1+ 29. Re1 Rxe1#
FEN: 4B3/pp2RQpk/7p/q4p2/P5n1/1P6/3r2P1/2R3K1 b - - 3 27