Chess puzzles for Sunday, 14 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 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 29... fxg6.
Puzzle rating 972
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
30. Rf8+ Rxf8 31. Rxf8#
FEN: r5k1/1b2r2p/p2pp1pQ/6P1/P7/1P4qP/2P2RP1/5R1K w - - 0 30
Medium: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 22... Re7.
Puzzle rating 1443
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
23. Rxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rh1+ Bh3 25. Rxh3#
FEN: r1bq3k/pp2rBpp/2p5/8/4N3/P4P2/1PPBKP2/R6R w - - 1 23
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 15. Rxd7.
Puzzle rating 2306
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, sacrifice
Show solution
15... Qxd7 16. Nxd7 Be3+ 17. Bxe3 Rxc4+
FEN: 2rqk2r/p2R1ppp/1p2p3/2b1N3/2Q2B2/8/PP3PPP/2K4R b k - 0 15