Chess puzzles for Thursday, 4 February 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 25. Qg3.
Puzzle rating 985
Hint
Show solution
25... d3+ 26. Kh1 dxc2
FEN: 3rr1k1/p1q2p1p/2p3p1/2bnP3/3p1P2/6QP/PPBB2P1/R3R1K1 b - - 1 25
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Rxf1.
Puzzle rating 1727
Hint
Theme: attraction (decoy), intermezzo (zwischenzug), middlegame tactic
Show solution
29... Rxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Qxf1+
FEN: 1r4k1/p3Q3/b3N1p1/4P2p/5P2/3q4/PPr3PK/R1B2R2 b - - 0 29
Hard: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 17... Bxc3.
Puzzle rating 2046
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, pin, attacking f2/f7
Show solution
18. Qxf7#
FEN: 3rk2r/p1pq1ppp/1nB1p3/4P3/2P5/1Pb1n3/P4QPP/R4RK1 w k - 0 18