Mate in 3

Chess Puzzle No. 306: Can Black find the three-move blow that ends it all?

Posted on 1 November 2026 by Delphine D.

01
Nov

White has just played Ne5, and it is Black to move in a tense middlegame position. A three-move sequence can settle everything: it is your turn to find it.

Mate in 3ExpertBlack to play

Black to play and mate in 3

Puzzle: Lichess open database (CC0) · Pieces: Cburnett, Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

See the solution explained

Qg2+ puts the white king in check and leaves the opponent with only one legal reply.

Rxg2 is therefore forced: the white king recaptures the attacking piece.

Rxf1+ follows with another check, wins a rook, and again leaves only one square to escape to.

Rg1 is White’s only possible reply.

Rfxg1# ends the game: the white king on h1 is in check and has no way out.

Remember the pattern: luring a piece onto a fatal square opens the path to a decisive attack on the king, leading to mate in three moves.

The Staunton design, with its instantly recognisable silhouettes, became the competition standard from the 19th century onwards. If you want to train with pieces true to that tradition, browse the Staunton chess sets or the solid wooden chess sets in the shop.

Delphine D.

Delphine D. is the lead writer of the editorial team at Le Palais des Échecs, a shop specialising since 2008 in wooden chess sets, chessboards and backgammon sets. Her guides draw on the shop's hands-on experience: more than 5,000 customers advised and a catalogue built around the woods that make beautiful sets. Pale, very fine-grained boxwood set against ebony or rosewood for the pieces; maple, walnut and mahogany for the boards; palisander, olive wood or burr wood for exceptional models. Choosing a set for a child, a wedding or retirement gift, comparing woods, having a board engraved: she helps every reader find the set that suits them. Find out more about Delphine D. and the editorial team - Facebook - Pinterest - Youtube