Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 29 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 14... f6.
Puzzle rating 1067
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
15. Ng6#
FEN: r1bq1rnk/ppp3bn/4pp1p/3pN1p1/3P4/1QPBP2P/PP1N1PPB/2R2RK1 w - - 0 15
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 21... Rxb2.
Puzzle rating 1442
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, back-rank mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
22. Qxf8+ Kxf8 23. Bc5+ Kg8 24. Re8#
FEN: 5rk1/p4ppp/3Q4/8/6n1/P3BqP1/1r3P1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 22
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 33. Ka3.
Puzzle rating 2109
Hint
Theme: pin, clearance, quiet move
Show solution
33... c5 34. Qa5 Ra6 35. Qxa6 bxa6
FEN: 6k1/pp4pp/2pr4/5P2/2P3P1/KPQ4P/P4r2/8 b - - 4 33