Chess puzzles for Thursday, 23 December 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 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 33. h4.
Puzzle rating 789
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, epaulette mate, middlegame tactic
Show solution
33... Ra3#
FEN: r6r/3R1Bpp/5p1k/1ppN4/2n2PPP/2K5/P1P5/4R3 b - - 0 33
Medium: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 47... Bc2.
Puzzle rating 1666
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, endgame tactic
Show solution
48. Bc3#
FEN: 8/4n3/2p5/B1P1kP1p/4P2P/4K3/2b5/8 w - - 3 48
Hard: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 37... Nf5.
Puzzle rating 2007
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, sacrifice, endgame tactic
Show solution
38. Nf6+ Rxf6 39. Qe8#
FEN: 5r2/2pk4/p2p4/Pp3n2/1P1PQ1Np/2P4P/3q4/1K2R3 w - - 5 38