Daily Chess Puzzle
A fresh forced-mate position lands here every day. Today's is a mate in 2: find the move that forces checkmate no matter how your opponent answers. You can try it right on the board below, no sign-up needed. It's the fastest way to keep your tactical eye sharp between games.
Come back each day for a new one and build a streak. Sign in so your solves count toward a run you can keep going, and when you miss a day, every earlier puzzle stays in the archive with its full solution.
How it works
One puzzle a day
A new forced-mate position is published every day at midnight UTC. Everyone gets the same puzzle, so you can compare notes.
Find the mate
Play the move you think forces checkmate. The board tells you right away whether the line holds against every defense.
Build a streak
Solve day after day and keep a run going. Miss one? Every past puzzle stays in the archive with the solution shown.
Frequently asked
Is the daily chess puzzle free?
Yes. The daily puzzle is free to try with no sign-up. A new forced-mate position is published every day at midnight UTC, and you can attempt it right on the board. Signing in lets your solve land on a streak so you can keep a run going day to day.
How do I solve a mate-in-N puzzle?
You're looking for a forced sequence that ends in checkmate within the stated number of moves, no matter how your opponent replies. Start from the most forcing ideas: checks, captures, and threats. A mate in 2 means your first move forces mate on the second; a mate in 3 forces it by the third. If a line lets the defender wriggle out, it isn't the solution.
When does a new puzzle appear?
Every day at 00:00 UTC. The puzzle on this page is today's; once the clock rolls over to a new UTC day, a fresh one takes its place. Yesterday's and every earlier puzzle stay readable in the archive, with the full solution revealed.
Can I play past daily puzzles?
Yes. Every puzzle since launch lives in the archive, one page per date. Past pages show the position, the theme, and the worked-out solution, so you can study the pattern even after the day has passed. Use the link below to browse recent dates.
Recent daily puzzles
Missed a day? Catch up on the most recent puzzles, each with its full solution revealed.
Related: Famous opening traps · Speed Clean Run · What's a good chess rating? · Chess glossary
BetterChess is a practice tool. We make no guarantee that you'll reach 1800 or any rating. Improvement depends on your own practice, effort, and skill.