Chess puzzles for Friday, 19 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 16... Nc6.
Puzzle rating 849
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, back-rank mate, hanging piece
Show solution
17. Rxf8#
FEN: r1b2r1k/ppp3pp/2n5/3QP3/8/7P/P1P1q1PK/R4R2 w - - 1 17
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 13. Bg3.
Puzzle rating 1839
Hint
Theme: middlegame tactic
Show solution
13... Nxd3 14. Bxc7 Nxb2
FEN: rnb2rk1/ppq2pp1/4p2p/8/1bBP1n2/2NQ1NB1/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 6 13
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. dxe5.
Puzzle rating 2178
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), kingside attack, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Bf2+ 18. Kh2 Qxe5+ 19. Bf4 Rxf4
FEN: 2r2rk1/ppp3p1/2p2q2/4P3/6Qb/2P4P/PP4P1/RNB3KR b - - 0 17