Mate in 3 chess puzzles
Three moves to checkmate. The first one usually looks like it gives something away.
Work backwards: picture the final mating position, then ask which forcing moves bring the king there. Checks first, then captures, then threats.
8 real puzzles from games on Lichess, easiest first, rated 563 to 2581. The course has 1,519 mate in 3 puzzles in all.
Puzzle 1 · rated 563
Black just played Rxc8. White to move.
Show the answer
24. Qxc8+ Bxc8 25. Rxc8+ Qd8 26. Rxd8#
Puzzle 2 · rated 1176
White just played Bxd6. Black to move.
Show the answer
21... Rxf2+ 22. Kh1 Qh3+ 23. Bh2 Qxh2#
Puzzle 3 · rated 1453
Black just played cxd6. White to move.
Show the answer
21. Rxb6+ axb6 22. Qa8+ Kc7 23. Qb7#
Puzzle 4 · rated 1693
White just played Ne5. Black to move.
Show the answer
36... Rhxh2+ 37. Kg4 h5+ 38. Kf3 Rhf2#
Puzzle 5 · rated 1869
White just played Rg1. Black to move.
Show the answer
36... Rh2+ 37. Kxh2 Nf3+ 38. Kh1 Rxg1#
Puzzle 6 · rated 2058
White just played Rxd7. Black to move.
Show the answer
29... Qxh2+ 30. Kxh2 Rh6+ 31. Kg1 Rh1#
Puzzle 7 · rated 2226
White just played Rxe6. Black to move.
Show the answer
30... Qxg2+ 31. Bxg2 Rxh3+ 32. Kg1 Rxg2#
Puzzle 8 · rated 2581
White just played Kh4. Black to move.
Show the answer
34... Rg5+ 35. Bxf2 Rh8+ 36. Bh5+ Rhxh5#
Free, no sign-up. Puzzles come in order of difficulty and the ladder adjusts to how you solve.
Puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Every line was replayed move by move by the course's rules engine. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course. Free coach for your Chess.com and Lichess games.