Chess puzzles for Monday, 22 February 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 14... Nf6.
Puzzle rating 1091
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qxf6
FEN: r3k2r/pp1qppbp/2p2np1/4B3/3P4/2N2Q2/PPP3PP/R3R1K1 w kq - 5 15
Medium: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 16... Nd5.
Puzzle rating 1862
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17. Qd6#
FEN: rnbq3r/1pkp1pp1/4p3/3nP2p/PQ6/1N1B4/1PP2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 17
Hard: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 23... Kg7.
Puzzle rating 2166
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, dovetail mate, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
24. Bf6+ Kxf6 25. Qg5#
FEN: r1b2r2/pp2Bpk1/4p3/2n4Q/7P/2P5/PP1K1P2/q7 w - - 4 24