Chess puzzles for Friday, 5 February 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 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 28... Rxg8.
Puzzle rating 993
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, smothered mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Nf7#
FEN: 3r2rk/pp4pp/1q5N/4p3/1PP1p3/P4PPb/7P/R2R3K w - - 0 29
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 14... a6.
Puzzle rating 1719
Hint
Show solution
15. Qxc5 dxc5 16. Rxd8 Rfxd8 17. Bxe7
FEN: 1r1q1rk1/1pp1npp1/p2pb2p/1Qb5/4P2B/2N2N2/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 15
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 42... Kf6.
Puzzle rating 2136
Hint
Theme: defensive move, pawn endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
43. Kxh4 Kf5 44. Kxg3 Ke4 45. Kf2 Kd3 46. Ke1
FEN: 8/8/p4k2/1p2p3/2p3Kp/P1P3pP/1P4P1/8 w - - 4 43