Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 6 January 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 51. Kg4.
Puzzle rating 704
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
51... Rg1#
FEN: 8/8/5k2/6p1/5nKp/5P2/7P/R2B3r b - - 1 51
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 35. Kxh7.
Puzzle rating 1458
Hint
Theme: defensive move, endgame tactic
Show solution
35... Bxa4 36. Nh5 Bc2+ 37. Kh6 a4
FEN: 8/3k2NK/8/p7/P6P/1b3P2/6P1/8 b - - 0 35
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 15... Bg5.
Puzzle rating 2399
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, capturing the defender
Show solution
16. Nxf7 Rxf7 17. Qxe6
FEN: r2q1rk1/nb3ppp/p3p3/1p2N1b1/5B2/P7/BP2QPPP/R4RK1 w - - 4 16