Chess puzzles for Thursday, 31 December 2026
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 8... Bxf3.
Puzzle rating 1106
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
9. Bxf7#
FEN: rn1qkb1r/p3nppp/1p6/2p1N3/2B5/5b2/PPPP1PPP/RNB1R1K1 w kq - 0 9
Medium: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 27. Nd2.
Puzzle rating 1734
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... Qe2#
FEN: 1k6/ppp5/5b2/1P2pp2/2qn4/P1B5/1Q1N1PP1/2R1KB1r b - - 6 27
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Nc4.
Puzzle rating 2303
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Qe2 Nxd2 20. Qxa6
FEN: r4rk1/p4ppp/q3pn2/N1p5/2n1P3/P3Q3/2PB1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 4 19