Checkmate patterns
Mate in 3
A deeper forced sequence — three moves, no escape.
What is the mate in 3?
A mate-in-three is a forced checkmate delivered on the third move against any defence. It usually weaves several themes together — a sacrifice to drag the king out, a decoy or deflection, then the finish.
Why the mate in 3 matters
Three-move mates are the sweet spot for training real calculation: long enough to require visualising a branching tree, short enough to hold in your head. Solving them regularly is one of the most reliable ways to add rating points.
How to use it to win
Start with the most forcing tries and follow each line to the end before moving on. Look for a sacrifice or decoy on move one that strips the king's shelter, and keep every move forcing so the defender never gets a free tempo.
Try an example puzzle
A real mate in 3 puzzle from the app. Black to move — find the idea, then reveal the line.
5 
f 
b Show solution
1. ... Qf2+ 2. Kh1 Qf1+ 3. Rxf1 Rxf1#
Drill the mate in 3 on thousands of real puzzles, matched to your rating.