Red moves and mates in 3
Mate in 3, proven against every defence.
Red is to move and forces mate in 3. Black is not helpless: there are 2 horses, a advisor and a elephant still on the board, and every legal defence has been tried against this solution. All of them lose.
The position
Red attacks with 2 chariots, 3 cannons and a horse, and Black's General stands on f10. Black's defenders: 2 horses, a advisor and a elephant.
- Mate in 3
- Chariot finish
- Rating 2303
Red moves first. Find the move that forces mate whatever Black replies, then open the solution below.
Show the solution
俥 a4–f4 is the only move that wins. Look at what it does: and leaves Black 2 legal replies, none of which help.
The line
- Red俥 a4–f4Check. Black must answer.
- Black象 d8–f6Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red俥 f4×f6Check. Black must answer.
- Black士 e10–f9Black's most stubborn defence.
- Red俥 f6×f9Checkmate.
Every one of Black's 2 answers was played out to the end. The line below follows the most stubborn of them, the one that lasts longest and costs Red the most.
Why it is mate
The chariot arrives on a line the defence cannot close. Chariots are the strongest pieces on the board and most finished attacks end with one, which is why a defender will trade almost anything to swap them off first.
Read about this patternHow 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.
Next puzzles
- Red to play, mate in 1x0125 · rating 1311
- Red to play, mate in 1x0123 · rating 1309
- Red to play, mate in 2x0126 · rating 1753
- Red moves and mates in 2x0122 · rating 1581
- Red to play, mate in 1x0127 · rating 1334
- Find the mate in 1x0121 · rating 1345
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.