Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 26 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 31. Rc8.
Puzzle rating 1132
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
31... Nxe3+ 32. Kg1 Nxc2
FEN: 1bRr2k1/1B3ppp/pP3q2/P3rn2/8/4B2P/2Q2PP1/2R2K2 b - - 3 31
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 18... Qxg5.
Puzzle rating 1489
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, sacrifice, kingside attack
Show solution
19. Qxf7+ Rxf7 20. Re8+ Rf8 21. Rfxf8#
FEN: r1b2rk1/1p3ppp/p7/2p3q1/2Qp4/N7/PP4PP/4RRK1 w - - 0 19
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Qc4.
Puzzle rating 2475
Hint
Theme: pin, quiet move, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. Rxg6+ Kh7 35. Rg3 Qh4+ 36. Rh3 Qxh3+ 37. Kxh3
FEN: 3r2k1/8/R5p1/1p2p3/2q5/2P5/P1P2Q1K/8 w - - 1 34