Mate in 3 Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 mate-in-three puzzles rated between 800 and 999, averaging 899. 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 800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 800 is one that players around 800 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 800

  1. Mate in 3 puzzle 1, rated 849h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 849 · Black to play after Nd6
    Show solution

    Qxf2+ Kh1 Qf1+ Rxf1 Rxf1#

  2. Mate in 3 puzzle 2, rated 874a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 874 · White to play after Qa5
    Show solution

    Qxf7+ Kh8 Qf8+ Bxf8 Rxf8#

  3. Mate in 3 puzzle 3, rated 987h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 987 · Black to play after Rxf1
    Show solution

    Rxf1+ Kh2 Be5+ g3 Rd2#

  4. Mate in 3 puzzle 4, rated 970h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 970 · Black to play after Rd1
    Show solution

    Qxf2+ Kh1 Qf1+ Rxf1 Rxf1#

  5. Mate in 3 puzzle 5, rated 837a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 837 · White to play after Rc8
    Show solution

    Rd8+ Rxd8 Rxd8+ Kh7 Qh4#

  6. Mate in 3 puzzle 6, rated 947h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 947 · Black to play after Rxd2
    Show solution

    Rf1+ Qxf1 Rxf1+ Rd1 Rxd1#

  7. Mate in 3 puzzle 7, rated 806h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 806 · Black to play after Rxb6
    Show solution

    Rc1+ Nd1 Rxd1+ Bf1 Rdxf1#

  8. Mate in 3 puzzle 8, rated 800a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 800 · White to play after Qd5
    Show solution

    Qb8+ Bc8 Qxc8+ Qd8 Qxd8#

  9. Mate in 3 puzzle 9, rated 941h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 941 · Black to play after Nc3
    Show solution

    Rxd1+ Nxd1 Qe1+ Qf1 Qxf1#

  10. Mate in 3 puzzle 10, rated 980a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 980 · White to play after Rxf5
    Show solution

    Re8+ Bf8 Rxf8+ Rxf8 Qxf8#

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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 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 899, so they suit 800-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.