Chess puzzles for Sunday, 27 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 27. Qf6.
Puzzle rating 1258
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, endgame tactic
Show solution
27... Rf4 28. Qxf4 Nxf4
FEN: 4r1k1/p4p1p/1p2nQp1/4P3/2Pr4/B6P/P4PPK/8 b - - 5 27
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 70... Kg3.
Puzzle rating 1431
Hint
Theme: pin, promotion, advanced pawn
Show solution
71. a6 Kxg2 72. a7 b2 73. Kc2 b1=Q+ 74. Kxb1 h3 75. a8=Q
FEN: 8/8/8/P2p4/7p/1p4k1/3K2P1/8 w - - 2 71
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... Rfc8.
Puzzle rating 2273
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Nf6+ Kh8 28. Nxd7
FEN: r1r3k1/2Rnqpp1/p3p2p/3bP2Q/3PN3/3B4/5PPP/1R4K1 w - - 10 26