Mate in 3

Chess Puzzle No. 304: Mate in three: can White uncover the winning idea?

Posted on 30 October 2026 by Delphine D.

30
Oct

White has just seen the black king retreat to h7, in a rook endgame with four pieces each side. With White to move, can you force mate in three moves?

Mate in 3IntermediateWhite to play

White to play and mate in 3

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

See the solution explained

Kf7 brings the white king closer to the black king without giving check, leaving Black with twelve possible replies.

Black plays Rxf4, capturing a pawn.

Rh1+ places the white rook on the h-file and gives check; Black is left with only one possible reply.

Black must play Rh4 to block the check.

Rxh4# captures the black rook while giving check. The black king, on h7, is in check and cannot escape it: checkmate.

This endgame shows a classic rook-endgame motif: the king advances to support the attack while the rook exploits the open file to force a back-rank-style mate. A useful pattern to remember whenever the king is exposed.

Rook endgames like this one are a classic part of chess learning, often studied in endgame books. If you want to practise this kind of position at home on a pleasant surface, take a look at our chess tables or our luxury wood chess sets.

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