Chess puzzles for Tuesday, 23 February 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 42. c3.
Puzzle rating 1044
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, Opera mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
42... e5+ 43. Ke3 Re2#
FEN: 1Q6/4pk2/3p1p2/1p6/2b1PK2/2P2P2/6r1/8 b - - 0 42
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 40... h5.
Puzzle rating 1898
Hint
Theme: defensive move, zugzwang, pawn endgame
Show solution
41. Kd4 e5+ 42. fxe5+ Ke6 43. h4
FEN: 8/8/p1p1pk2/P1P2p1p/5P2/4K1PP/8/8 w - - 0 41
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 34. Ne2.
Puzzle rating 2101
Hint
Theme: interference, middlegame tactic
Show solution
34... Nxe2 35. Bxe2 Qd4+ 36. Kc1 Qxa1+
FEN: 2k5/1p3p2/p7/3p2p1/1PpnPrb1/P7/2PKN1P1/R2QRBq1 b - - 5 34