Chess puzzles for Monday, 1 February 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 32. Bxd7.
Puzzle rating 886
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Pillsbury’s mate, sacrifice
Show solution
32... Qxh2+ 33. Nxh2 Rxh2#
FEN: 1r5r/3B4/5kpq/p4p2/3b4/1P4p1/P1Q1R1PP/4RN1K b - - 0 32
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 35... Bxd5.
Puzzle rating 1760
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered check, double check
Show solution
36. Nf7+ Kg8 37. Nxh6+
FEN: 1b1r3k/1p4p1/3NQ2p/r1Pb4/1R6/4B1P1/5P1P/3q1BK1 w - - 0 36
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 33. Rf2.
Puzzle rating 2413
Hint
Theme: pin, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
33... Ng4 34. Kg1 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Ke2 Nxf2
FEN: 2k3r1/ppp5/4pR2/1P1pP3/P2P1N1r/2P1n1qP/3Q1RP1/7K b - - 4 33