Chess puzzles for Thursday, 18 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 13. Qf5+.
Puzzle rating 884
Hint
Theme: trapped piece, defensive move, middlegame tactic
Show solution
13... g6 14. fxe5 gxf5
FEN: rn1q1r2/ppp2ppk/3p1n1p/4pQ2/2B1PP2/2PP3P/P1P3P1/R1B2RK1 b - - 4 13
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 21. f3.
Puzzle rating 1472
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
21... Qc4 22. Kf2 Qe2+
FEN: r2k4/p1p1bQp1/bp2Bn1p/3p4/3P4/2P2PP1/q2B3P/2R1K2R b K - 0 21
Hard: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 23... Bh3.
Puzzle rating 2211
Hint
Show solution
24. Nxd5 Bxf1 25. Rxe4
FEN: r3k1r1/3qn1bp/p7/1p1p4/1N2p3/2P2pPb/PPN2P1P/R2QRBK1 w q - 1 24