Mate in three

How to solve mate in three

In a mate-in-three puzzle the mate is rarely visible at the start. Often it begins with a sacrifice or a check that forces one particular reply, and only on the third move does the whole picture become clear.

Forcing moves are the key. Checks leave your opponent few choices, and the fewer the choices, the further you can calculate safely. Also look at which pieces defend the king, and whether they can be lured away or captured.

In every puzzle your opponent replies with the best defense. So you have to fight all the way. If you find a different mate on the last move, it counts.

How the puzzles work

There are 150 puzzles here. Choose a level above the board. Within each level the puzzles get harder and harder, and when you come back you pick up where you left off.

Your opponent makes the first move, then it's your turn. If you get stuck, Hint shows which piece to move, and Show the solution plays the rest. The theme only shows once the puzzle is done, but here you already know what you're looking for.

In Puzzle training you get puzzles in this theme at your own level, and see how you're doing in each theme.

More puzzles

• Mate in one
• Mate in two
• Fork
• Pin
• Skewer
• Discovered attack
• Double check
• Sacrifice
• Deflection
• Attraction
• Hanging piece
• In-between move
• Back-rank mate
• Smothered mate
• Promotion
• Endgame
• Rook endgames
• Pawn endgames
• Zugzwang

The puzzles come from Lichess, fetched on October 2, 2026.

Updated November 6, 2026