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Play ChessMini ChessSurvivalTakesCheckSmotheredMate in 1Mate in 2Mate in 3Chess SolitaireChain CaptureKing and PawnRook EndgameZugzwangQueen vs Pawn
Top PlayersBlogA Guide to Chess SolitaireHow to Solve the Takes PuzzleWhat Is Zugzwang and How Do You Use It?Survival Chess: How to Keep Your Knight Alive
Play ChessMini ChessSurvivalTakesCheckSmotheredMate in 1Mate in 2Mate in 3Chess SolitaireChain CaptureKing and PawnRook EndgameZugzwangQueen vs Pawn
Top PlayersBlogA Guide to Chess SolitaireHow to Solve the Takes PuzzleWhat Is Zugzwang and How Do You Use It?Survival Chess: How to Keep Your Knight Alive

Mate in 3

Calculate a forced checkmate in three moves.

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
♟

Ready to play?

Timer starts on click. Solve faster for more points.

Want to go deeper? Thinking Three Moves Ahead in the Mate in 3 Puzzle

Rules
  • You play White.
  • Deliver checkmate in 3 moves.
  • Black always plays its best defense.
  • Stalemate counts as a loss.

How to Play

1

Three-move forced mate

White plays three moves and Black plays two. The solution must force checkmate on move 3 regardless of Black’s best defense.

2

Start with the key move

The first move creates a threat Black cannot fully neutralise — often improving a piece, opening a line, or setting up a mating net.

3

Read Black’s defenses

After each White move, consider every Black reply. Your plan must account for all of them and still deliver checkmate on move 3.

4

Calculate, don’t guess

Mate in 3 requires accurate calculation. Work through the main lines methodically — a single oversight lets Black escape.