Chess puzzles for Friday, 29 January 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 33... Kf7.
Puzzle rating 1197
Hint
Theme: quiet move, endgame tactic
Show solution
34. g5 e5 35. dxe5
FEN: 8/1b3k1p/2p1pPp1/3p4/1PpP2P1/2P5/7N/6K1 w - - 1 34
Medium: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 29. Kh1.
Puzzle rating 1737
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29... Qh3+ 30. Rh2 Qxf1#
FEN: 4r1k1/4P2p/1prp2pB/p2N4/3b2q1/8/PP1Q2R1/5R1K b - - 5 29
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Qxd5.
Puzzle rating 2479
Hint
Theme: kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
19. Bxg7 f5 20. Qg5 fxg4 21. Qxd5+
FEN: r4rk1/1b3ppp/p1n4B/1ppq4/6N1/b2P3P/2PQ1PP1/1R3RK1 w - - 0 19