Chess puzzles for Saturday, 18 December 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 34... Nxg5.
Puzzle rating 979
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, middlegame tactic
Show solution
35. Nf6#
FEN: 3r1rk1/5p1R/4p1n1/p5nN/8/P2PK3/B1P2P2/8 w - - 0 35
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 44... Nxe4.
Puzzle rating 1501
Hint
Theme: advanced pawn, knight endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
45. b6 axb6 46. a6 Nf6 47. a7
FEN: 8/p5k1/3p3p/PP4pP/3Pn3/6P1/7K/8 w - - 0 45
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 23. Rd2.
Puzzle rating 2225
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered attack, sacrifice
Show solution
23... Qxd4 24. Rxd4 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Nxd4
FEN: r1r3k1/5pp1/1p2p2p/pP1pq3/P2N4/B1n5/3R1PPP/2Q2RK1 b - - 1 23