Mate in 3 Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 mate-in-three puzzles rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2306. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Mate in 3 puzzle 1, rated 2573h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2573 · Black to play after Bc3
    Show solution

    Rgh8 Ng3 Rh1+ Nxh1 Bh2#

  2. Mate in 3 puzzle 2, rated 2204h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2204 · Black to play after gxh3
    Show solution

    Rxh3+ Kxh3 Nxf2+ Rxf2 Qg3#

  3. Mate in 3 puzzle 3, rated 2217a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2217 · White to play after Kh6
    Show solution

    Qf4+ g5 Qf6+ Kxh5 g4#

  4. Mate in 3 puzzle 4, rated 2262a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2262 · White to play after Rd8
    Show solution

    Rb1+ Ka7 Nc6+ bxc6 Bc5#

  5. Mate in 3 puzzle 5, rated 2352h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2352 · Black to play after Qh5
    Show solution

    Rxg2+ Kh1 Rg1+ Kxg1 Qh1#

  6. Mate in 3 puzzle 6, rated 2260h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2260 · Black to play after Nxc7
    Show solution

    Ra1+ Kd2 Bb4+ c3 Re2#

  7. Mate in 3 puzzle 7, rated 2391a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2391 · White to play after Kh6
    Show solution

    Rd1 Rf4 Rh1+ Rh4 Rxh4#

  8. Mate in 3 puzzle 8, rated 2220a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2220 · White to play after Ke5
    Show solution

    Qh8+ Kd6 Qd8+ Kc5 Qd4#

  9. Mate in 3 puzzle 9, rated 2253h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2253 · Black to play after Qxb4
    Show solution

    Qxb2+ Qxb2 Na3+ Kc1 Bxb2#

  10. Mate in 3 puzzle 10, rated 2331a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2331 · White to play after h5
    Show solution

    Kh3 h4 f4+ Kh5 g4#

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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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2306, so they suit 2200+-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.