Chess puzzles for Saturday, 23 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 43. Kh3.
Puzzle rating 734
Hint
Theme: queen and rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
43... Re3+ 44. Qf3 Rxf3+
FEN: 4r1k1/5R2/p1p2Qpp/1p6/1P4P1/7K/r6P/8 b - - 3 43
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 16... Rxf2.
Puzzle rating 1646
Hint
Theme: hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Kxf2 e4 18. Qg4 Qxg3+ 19. Qxg3 Bxg3+ 20. Kxg3
FEN: rn4k1/ppp3p1/3b4/1P1pp3/7q/4P1RP/PBPP1r2/RN1QK3 w Q - 0 17
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... a5.
Puzzle rating 2366
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30. Bxf7+ Kxf7 31. Qxc7+
FEN: 1r2r1k1/2p1qpnp/1pQ3pB/p7/4P3/8/B1P3PP/5R1K w - - 0 29