Chess puzzles for Sunday, 3 January 2027
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 33... Rxa3.
Puzzle rating 926
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. bxa3 Kg8 35. a4
FEN: 7k/7p/3p4/2p3p1/3p2P1/r6P/PPP2K2/8 w - - 0 34
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 58. Be5.
Puzzle rating 1472
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, endgame tactic
Show solution
58... Nxe5 59. fxe5 Kxe5 60. Kf3 Kf5 61. Kg3 Kg5
FEN: 8/3n4/6p1/4Bk2/5P2/4K3/8/8 b - - 15 58
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 18. Bd3.
Puzzle rating 2389
Hint
Theme: X-ray attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Bxe5 19. d6 Qxc3 20. Qxc3 Bxc3
FEN: rn3rk1/2q2pp1/p2b3p/1p1PNb2/3Q4/2NB4/PPP2PPP/1K1R3R b - - 3 18