Chess puzzles for Friday, 1 January 2027
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 29... dxc1=Q.
Puzzle rating 966
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, queenside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30. Qxa7#
FEN: k4r2/pb6/4p2p/1p3q2/2pQ4/4B3/P4PPP/2q2BK1 w - - 0 30
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 48. Kd3.
Puzzle rating 1708
Hint
Theme: knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
48... Ne1+ 49. Ke3 Ng2+ 50. Kf2 Nf4
FEN: 8/8/4p3/4k3/4P1Pp/p2K1P1P/N1n5/8 b - - 3 48
Hard: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 17... Kh7.
Puzzle rating 2357
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, sacrifice, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18. Bg8+ Rxg8 19. Qf7+ Rg7 20. Qxg7#
FEN: r2q1r2/p1pp3k/1p5p/4Bp1Q/2B5/8/PPb2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 18