Puzzle goals
Mate (win by checkmate)
Finish the game with checkmate, not just material.
What is the mate (win by checkmate)?
A mate puzzle's goal is checkmate itself — find the forced sequence that ends the game, whatever its length. The reward is not a won position but the won game.
Why the mate (win by checkmate) matters
Converting an attack into actual mate is a distinct skill from winning material, and it is the one that ends games cleanly. Training it builds the killer instinct to look for the finish rather than settling for "winning".
How to use it to win
When the enemy king looks shaky, stop counting material and start counting escape squares. Hunt for forcing checks that reduce the king's options to zero, and trust a sacrifice if it leads to a forced mate.
Try an example puzzle
A real mate (win by checkmate) puzzle from the app. Black to move — find the idea, then reveal the line.
5 
g 
f a 8 Show solution
1. ... Qc3#
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