Chess puzzles for Thursday, 7 January 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 55. Qd4+.
Puzzle rating 707
Hint
Theme: pin, defensive move, queen and rook endgame
Show solution
55... Rc4 56. Qxc4+ Kxc4
FEN: 8/8/3pp1p1/8/1k1Q2KP/1p3P2/2r5/8 b - - 9 55
Medium: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 31. Kg2.
Puzzle rating 1730
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Rg1+ 32. Kh3 Qh6+ 33. Bh5 Qxh5#
FEN: 7k/pp3Bpp/nq6/1N6/5P2/P4R2/Q5KP/3r4 b - - 2 31
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 32... Rf5.
Puzzle rating 2064
Hint
Theme: pin, deflection, sacrifice
Show solution
33. Qh8+ Qd8 34. Rxc6+ bxc6 35. b7+
FEN: 2k5/1p1q3p/pPp1p1p1/P3Qr2/8/7P/6P1/2R3K1 w - - 3 33