Chess puzzles for Friday, 25 December 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 36. Ne5.
Puzzle rating 1208
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
36... Qd1+ 37. Rxd1 cxd1=Q#
FEN: 5bk1/p4p1p/6p1/4N3/8/4BbQ1/P1p1qP1P/2R3K1 b - - 1 36
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 56. g4.
Puzzle rating 1803
Hint
Theme: queen endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
56... Qd1+ 57. Kf2 Qxg4
FEN: 6k1/6p1/1p5p/2p2P2/2P1p1PP/1P2Q3/2q5/5K2 b - - 0 56
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 46... Ke3.
Puzzle rating 2690
Hint
Theme: quiet move, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
47. h4 fxg5 48. fxg5 Kf3 49. h5 Kg3 50. h6
FEN: 8/6pp/5p2/5KP1/5P2/4k2P/8/8 w - - 1 47