Chess puzzles for Wednesday, 20 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 35... Kh6.
Puzzle rating 1193
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, deflection, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Qh8+ Kg5 37. Qxg7#
FEN: 4Q3/5pp1/5P1k/p3p2p/4Bq2/P1P2P1K/6PP/3r4 w - - 1 36
Medium: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18. Bxh3.
Puzzle rating 1522
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Qh1#
FEN: r7/pp1n1kp1/2p5/3pp1B1/8/2PP3B/PP2PP1q/R2Q1K2 b - - 0 18
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 45. b8=Q.
Puzzle rating 2187
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
45... Nf4+ 46. gxf4 Rd3+ 47. Be3 Rxe3#
FEN: 1Q6/6k1/2R5/2Brp1pp/8/6PK/4n2P/4n3 b - - 0 45