Chess puzzles for Friday, 24 December 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 21... Qxb3.
Puzzle rating 1293
Hint
Show solution
22. Nxe7+ Nxe7 23. axb3
FEN: 2r2rk1/1p2bppp/p1N1p3/3n4/8/1q1BB3/PP3PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 22
Medium: Black to move and mate in 4
Black to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 36. Rh7.
Puzzle rating 1466
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, endgame tactic
Show solution
36... Rc1+ 37. Bd1 Rxd1+ 38. Kh2 Bg3+ 39. Kh3 Rh1#
FEN: 8/R6R/1p2p2p/4p3/2P2k1b/5B2/2r3P1/6K1 b - - 2 36
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 14. Nxf6+.
Puzzle rating 2381
Hint
Theme: opening tactic
Show solution
14... gxf6 15. Qxf6 exf6 16. Nc6+ Qe5 17. Nxe5 fxe5 18. Rxe5+ Kd8
FEN: rq2kb1r/1b1ppppp/p4N2/1pp1N3/8/3P1Q2/PPP2PPP/R1B1R1K1 b kq - 0 14