Chess puzzles for Monday, 11 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 25... Bb5.
Puzzle rating 1081
Hint
Theme: double check, kingside attack, advanced pawn
Show solution
26. gxh7+ Kh8 27. Rg8+
FEN: 2r2rk1/1p2b2p/p3p1P1/1b1pq2P/3n4/3QNN2/PP2BKR1/R7 w - - 1 26
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 32. Kg5.
Puzzle rating 1669
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
32... Bh4+ 33. Rxh4 Qxh4#
FEN: 7k/2p3pp/p1P1Q3/4p1KR/1p3r2/1P3Pb1/PB2Bq2/2R5 b - - 2 32
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 21... Qd4.
Puzzle rating 2242
Hint
Theme: sacrifice, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22. Rxg6+ fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Ng7 24. Ba2+ Be6 25. Bxe6+
FEN: r1b2rk1/pp3p2/2p1nRpp/4P3/3qQ2P/P1N5/1P4P1/RB5K w - - 2 22