Mate in 3 Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 mate-in-three puzzles rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2080. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

Mate in three requires holding a branching tree in your head. Start from the mating picture you want and work backwards to the move that forces it, rather than searching forwards from checks.

These are pitched at 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Mate in 3 puzzles rated 2000

  1. Mate in 3 puzzle 1, rated 2118a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2118 · White to play after a3
    Show solution

    Rxh6+ gxh6 Qe5+ Nf6 Qxf6#

  2. Mate in 3 puzzle 2, rated 2059h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2059 · Black to play after Nxe5
    Show solution

    Qxf2+ Rxf2 Rxd1+ Rf1 Rdxf1#

  3. Mate in 3 puzzle 3, rated 2107a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2107 · White to play after Be6
    Show solution

    Nf6+ gxf6 Rg4+ Kh8 Qxf6#

  4. Mate in 3 puzzle 4, rated 2114a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2114 · White to play after Nxd1
    Show solution

    Qh8+ Ke7 Ng6+ fxg6 Qxg7#

  5. Mate in 3 puzzle 5, rated 2005h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2005 · Black to play after Qc5
    Show solution

    Qf3 Qd5 Rxg2+ Kh1 Qh3#

  6. Mate in 3 puzzle 6, rated 2015h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2015 · Black to play after Rxd5
    Show solution

    Re1+ Bf1 Ne2+ Kh1 Rxf1#

  7. Mate in 3 puzzle 7, rated 2085a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2085 · White to play after Rd2
    Show solution

    Qxf8+ Kxf8 Rd8+ Ke7 Nc6#

  8. Mate in 3 puzzle 8, rated 2027h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2027 · Black to play after Qxc3
    Show solution

    Nf3+ gxf3 Qg5+ Kh1 Bxf3#

  9. Mate in 3 puzzle 9, rated 2098a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2098 · White to play after Nxd5
    Show solution

    Qxh7+ Kf8 Qh8+ Bxh8 Rxh8#

  10. Mate in 3 puzzle 10, rated 2175h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2175 · Black to play after Qxf6
    Show solution

    Rd1+ Kc3 Qe1+ Kc4 b5#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a mate in 3 in chess?

Mate in three requires holding a branching tree in your head. Start from the mating picture you want and work backwards to the move that forces it, rather than searching forwards from checks.

What does a puzzle rating of 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2080, so they suit 2000-rated players.

Are these mate in 3 puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.