Puzzle x0004 · rating 2070

Red to play, mate in 3

Mate in 3, proven against every defence.

Red to move. There is exactly one winning first move here, and it mates in 3 against anything Black tries. Black's remaining force: a advisor.

The position

Red attacks with 2 cannons, a soldier and a chariot, and Black's General stands on d10. Black's defenders: a advisor.

Mate in 3
Soldier finish
Rating 2070

Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.

Show the solution

It starts with 兵 g8–f8. Look at what it does: and leaves Black 4 legal replies, none of which help.

The line

Red兵 g8–f8Quiet, and there is no answer to the threat.
Black將 d10×e10The toughest try, taking a piece with it.
Red兵 f8×f9Quiet, and there is no answer to the threat.
Black將 e10–d10Black's most stubborn defence.
Red兵 f9–e9Checkmate.

Black has 4 legal moves after the first blow and each was refuted to mate. The main line shown is the toughest defence rather than a convenient one.

Why it is mate

A soldier gives the mate, which only happens once it has crossed the river and can step sideways. It is the cheapest piece on the board finishing a game, and it is a reminder that a crossed soldier is an attacker rather than a wall.

Read about this pattern

How this puzzle was checked

Nothing here is an engine opinion. The position was solved by trying every legal defence to the full mate distance, so the claim that Red mates in 3 is a proof rather than an evaluation, and the first move shown is the only one that works. The defence in the line above is Black’s most stubborn try, not a convenient one.

Solve puzzles on a real board More mates in 3 Enter the board

Next puzzles

New to mating patterns? The glossary names the ones that come up again and again, the piece guides explain what each piece can do, and the rules page covers everything from the start.