Chess puzzles for Monday, 25 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 27... Kh8.
Puzzle rating 1176
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28. Nxf7+ Kh7 29. Rg7#
FEN: 7k/4bp2/4N3/1p1pN2p/1n1P1P2/4P2P/1Pq5/r1B3RK w - - 1 28
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 36... Ne5.
Puzzle rating 1872
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
37. Bg7+ Kg8 38. Bxe5
FEN: r6k/1p1PpR1p/3bP1pB/p3n3/P7/7P/1P4P1/7K w - - 13 37
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Bxe3.
Puzzle rating 2033
Hint
Theme: exposed king, middlegame tactic
Show solution
28... Rh2+ 29. Rxh2 Rxh2+ 30. Kxh2 Qxf3
FEN: 7r/4bkp1/p1q5/1pp2PP1/3p3r/PP1PBQN1/2P3K1/4R2R b - - 0 28