Chess puzzles for Thursday, 24 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 64... e1=Q.
Puzzle rating 991
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
65. g8=Q+ Kh6 66. Qg6#
FEN: 8/5KPk/8/8/8/8/8/4q3 w - - 0 65
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Bxg6.
Puzzle rating 1793
Hint
Theme: pin, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
43. h8=Q+ Rxh8 44. Nxh8
FEN: 4r3/5NkP/1p4b1/2p5/2Pp4/P5R1/5r2/K1B5 w - - 0 43
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. cxb7.
Puzzle rating 2375
Hint
Theme: fork, hanging piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... Rxc1+ 41. Kf2 Qc7 42. b8=Q Qc2+ 43. Kg3 Rg1+ 44. Kh4 Qf2+
FEN: Q7/1Pr2qpk/4pp2/3p4/3P2P1/p2R1P1p/P6P/2R3K1 b - - 0 40