Chess puzzles for Sunday, 24 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 27. Kf2.
Puzzle rating 1177
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, Opera mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
27... R3e2#
FEN: 8/pp4k1/3P3p/nb1P2pQ/5p2/4rNPP/PP3K2/R1B1r3 b - - 2 27
Medium: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23... Kxf8.
Puzzle rating 1628
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
24. Bh6+ Kg8 25. Re8#
FEN: 5k2/p4p1p/3p2p1/8/5B2/8/q4PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 24
Hard: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31... Qd1.
Puzzle rating 2670
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, attraction (decoy), sacrifice
Show solution
32. Qf7+ Kxf7 33. Nh6#
FEN: 4r1k1/p2bp2p/3pNp2/1p1P1PpQ/6N1/1P4PK/P5BP/2rq4 w - - 4 32