Chess puzzles for Thursday, 28 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 18... Rf6.
Puzzle rating 1265
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Qh8+ Kf7 20. Ne5#
FEN: r1bq2k1/1p2b1p1/p3prN1/3p1p1Q/n2P4/2P3P1/PP5P/R1B1K2R w KQ - 1 19
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 48. Rb8+.
Puzzle rating 1439
Hint
Theme: endgame tactic
Show solution
48... Rxb8 49. Rxb8+ Kxd7 50. Rb4 f3
FEN: rR1k4/3P1p1p/1R2bK2/6P1/5p2/1p6/7P/8 b - - 2 48
Hard: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 39. Ke2.
Puzzle rating 2204
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
39... Rh2+ 40. Kd3 Rg3+ 41. Kc4 Rc2#
FEN: 8/pp6/4Qbk1/1B1Pp1p1/PP2Pp2/8/4K3/3R2rr b - - 1 39