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Chess puzzles for Saturday, 30 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

a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23... fxe5.

Puzzle rating 1165

Hint

Theme: mate in 2, clearance, sacrifice

Show solution

24. Rh8+ Bxh8 25. Qh7#

FEN: 2r2rk1/4p1b1/n1p3P1/p2ppq2/1p1P1P2/4B3/PPP4R/R4K1Q w - - 0 24

Medium: Black to move and win

h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8

Black to move and win. The opponent just played 58. Ke5.

Puzzle rating 1627

Hint

Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame

Show solution

58... Kxb6 59. Ke4 Kxb5 60. Kd3 Kb4 61. Kc2 Kc4

FEN: 8/1k6/1P6/1Pp1K3/8/8/8/8 b - - 6 58

Hard: White to move and win

a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

White to move and win. The opponent just played 11... Nxd4.

Puzzle rating 2481

Hint

Theme: attraction (decoy), attacking f2/f7, opening tactic

Show solution

12. Nxg6 Nxb3 13. Bxf7+ Kxf7 14. Nxh8+ Ke6 15. axb3

FEN: r1b1k1nr/pppp1ppp/6q1/b3P3/2Bn3N/1Q6/P2N1PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 12