Chess puzzles for Sunday, 19 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 35... Nd6.
Puzzle rating 992
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, hook mate, endgame tactic
Show solution
36. Rb8#
FEN: 7R/1kp5/1pNn4/1P6/5p2/2K5/2P5/6r1 w - - 6 36
Medium: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 39. fxg4.
Puzzle rating 1814
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
39... Rxd3 40. Rxd3 fxg4
FEN: 4r3/p2k4/Kp5p/3P1p2/P5P1/1P1R3r/3R4/8 b - - 0 39
Hard: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 17... Qxe5.
Puzzle rating 2073
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Opera mate, clearance
Show solution
18. Bxb5+ axb5 19. Qd8+ Rxd8 20. Rxd8#
FEN: r3kb1r/1b3ppp/p7/1pn1qPB1/8/3B4/PPPQ2PP/1K1R4 w kq - 0 18