5 Endgame Mate-in-3s Most People Cannot Solve
Endgame is a very crucial part of chess. Depth of endgame understanding often decides if you win or lose otherwise equally looking position.
Today, we present a list of 5 endgame tactics problems, which are not difficult, but yet most players fail to find the right move order.
Can you solve it?
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Instructions: White to move and mate in 3.
Composition #1: S. Lenner (1864)
Composition #2: U. Shinkmann (1877)
Composition #3: U. Shinkmann (1878)
Composition #4: Kotz, Kokkelcorry (1888)
Composition #5: U. Shinkmann (1898)
Struggling solving? Checkout the following resources:
- 25 Best Chess Books Every Player Must Have
- Endgame Strategies or How to Win More Game
- Tips for beginners: resources to help you learn to play better chess
Credits:
Image is used from Flickr under the creative commons license.
Updated 04.10.2023
Hi 1- Rc2 kK8 2Kc7 Ka7 3Ra2#
[quote name=”Morti”][quote name=”godslayer”][quote name=”Eugene”]Your #1 is wrong he is not forced to move to b8 on his first move after you go to Rc2. If he goes to a8 after you go to Rc2 its not mate in 3. The correct and forced mate is Ra2+ Kthen is forced to go Kb8 then you go Ra6 he can only go to kc8 trapping himself and then Ra8#
[quote name=”Diki”]#1. Rc2 Kb8, Kxb6 Ka8, Rc8+#
Rc2 b6-b5, Kc7 …, Ra2#
#2. Rg3 Kh2 or Kh1, Kg4 Kh2 or h1, Rh7+#
#3. Bb3 Ka5, Qc6 Kb4, Kb6+#
Bb3 Kb5, Qc7 Ka6, Bc4+#
Bb3 Ka7, Qc7+ Ka8, Bd5+#
#4. Still can’t find the right move. 🙁
#5. Rg1 Kh6, Kf5 Kh5, Rh1+#
Rg1 h7-h6, Rg2 Kh4, Rh2+#[/quote][/quote]
You’re wrong too, Eugene. If: 1. Ra2+ Kb8 2. Ra6, then black can just advance the pawn b6-b5[/quote]
1-Rc2! is correct. 1…Ka8 2Ka7![/quote]
wrong to
1Rc2 ka8 2K”c”7 Ka7 3Ra2#
[quote name=”Morti”][quote name=”godslayer”][quote name=”Eugene”]Your #1 is wrong he is not forced to move to b8 on his first move after you go to Rc2. If he goes to a8 after you go to Rc2 its not mate in 3. The correct and forced mate is Ra2+ Kthen is forced to go Kb8 then you go Ra6 he can only go to kc8 trapping himself and then Ra8#
[quote name=”Diki”]#1. Rc2 Kb8, Kxb6 Ka8, Rc8+#
Rc2 b6-b5, Kc7 …, Ra2#
#2. Rg3 Kh2 or Kh1, Kg4 Kh2 or h1, Rh7+#
#3. Bb3 Ka5, Qc6 Kb4, Kb6+#
Bb3 Kb5, Qc7 Ka6, Bc4+#
Bb3 Ka7, Qc7+ Ka8, Bd5+#
#4. Still can’t find the right move. 🙁
#5. Rg1 Kh6, Kf5 Kh5, Rh1+#
Rg1 h7-h6, Rg2 Kh4, Rh2+#[/quote][/quote]
You’re wrong too, Eugene. If: 1. Ra2+ Kb8 2. Ra6, then black can just advance the pawn b6-b5[/quote]
1-Rc2! is correct. 1…Ka8 2Ka7![/quote]
Ke2 Kb3, Qd2 the king just have 1 move to c4 then Qd3#
#4 Ke2 Kb3, Qd2 Kc4, Qd3#
[quote name=”godslayer”][quote name=”Eugene”]Your #1 is wrong he is not forced to move to b8 on his first move after you go to Rc2. If he goes to a8 after you go to Rc2 its not mate in 3. The correct and forced mate is Ra2+ Kthen is forced to go Kb8 then you go Ra6 he can only go to kc8 trapping himself and then Ra8#
[quote name=”Diki”]#1. Rc2 Kb8, Kxb6 Ka8, Rc8+#
Rc2 b6-b5, Kc7 …, Ra2#
#2. Rg3 Kh2 or Kh1, Kg4 Kh2 or h1, Rh7+#
#3. Bb3 Ka5, Qc6 Kb4, Kb6+#
Bb3 Kb5, Qc7 Ka6, Bc4+#
Bb3 Ka7, Qc7+ Ka8, Bd5+#
#4. Still can’t find the right move. 🙁
#5. Rg1 Kh6, Kf5 Kh5, Rh1+#
Rg1 h7-h6, Rg2 Kh4, Rh2+#[/quote][/quote]
You’re wrong too, Eugene. If: 1. Ra2+ Kb8 2. Ra6, then black can just advance the pawn b6-b5[/quote]
1-Rc2! is correct. 1…Ka8 2Ka7!
Nice compositions! Very tricky!
I believe #2 has several solutions:
1 Rhf3 Kg1/h1/h2 2 Rf1 Kg2/h2 3 R7f2#.
1 Rg3+ Kh1/h2 2 Kg4 Kh2/h1 3 Rh7#.
1 Kg4 Kg1 2 Rg3+ Kh1/h2 3 Rh7#.
(#4: 1 Ke2 Kb3 2 Qd2!)
Your #1 is wrong he is not forced to move to b8 on his first move after you go to Rc2. If he goes to a8 after you go to Rc2 its not mate in 3. The correct and forced mate is Ra2+ Kthen is forced to go Kb8 then you go Ra6 he can only go to kc8 trapping himself and then Ra8#
[quote name=”Diki”]#1. Rc2 Kb8, Kxb6 Ka8, Rc8+#
Rc2 b6-b5, Kc7 …, Ra2#
#2. Rg3 Kh2 or Kh1, Kg4 Kh2 or h1, Rh7+#
#3. Bb3 Ka5, Qc6 Kb4, Kb6+#
Bb3 Kb5, Qc7 Ka6, Bc4+#
Bb3 Ka7, Qc7+ Ka8, Bd5+#
#4. Still can’t find the right move. 🙁
#5. Rg1 Kh6, Kf5 Kh5, Rh1+#
Rg1 h7-h6, Rg2 Kh4, Rh2+#[/quote]
[quote name=”Eugene”]Your #1 is wrong he is not forced to move to b8 on his first move after you go to Rc2. If he goes to a8 after you go to Rc2 its not mate in 3. The correct and forced mate is Ra2+ Kthen is forced to go Kb8 then you go Ra6 he can only go to kc8 trapping himself and then Ra8#
[quote name=”Diki”]#1. Rc2 Kb8, Kxb6 Ka8, Rc8+#
Rc2 b6-b5, Kc7 …, Ra2#
#2. Rg3 Kh2 or Kh1, Kg4 Kh2 or h1, Rh7+#
#3. Bb3 Ka5, Qc6 Kb4, Kb6+#
Bb3 Kb5, Qc7 Ka6, Bc4+#
Bb3 Ka7, Qc7+ Ka8, Bd5+#
#4. Still can’t find the right move. 🙁
#5. Rg1 Kh6, Kf5 Kh5, Rh1+#
Rg1 h7-h6, Rg2 Kh4, Rh2+#[/quote][/quote]
You’re wrong too, Eugene. If: 1. Ra2+ Kb8 2. Ra6, then black can just advance the pawn b6-b5
#1. Rc2 Kb8, Kxb6 Ka8, Rc8+#
Rc2 b6-b5, Kc7 …, Ra2#
#2. Rg3 Kh2 or Kh1, Kg4 Kh2 or h1, Rh7+#
#3. Bb3 Ka5, Qc6 Kb4, Kb6+#
Bb3 Kb5, Qc7 Ka6, Bc4+#
Bb3 Ka7, Qc7+ Ka8, Bd5+#
#4. Still can’t find the right move. 🙁
#5. Rg1 Kh6, Kf5 Kh5, Rh1+#
Rg1 h7-h6, Rg2 Kh4, Rh2+#
Shinkman (1877)
(1) Kg4..
(2) Rg3+
(3) Rh7 mate