Mate In Three

Below is a final position from one of my blitz games.



You can just stop now and try to find the mate in three or read on. (The solution is not given below.)



After the game was over, I took some time to look for the fastest mate possible.

There are (obviously) a lot of mates here, and I just kept trying to find the fastest one that I could.

Without an obvious guide (like the mate in 3 in the thread title), I was pretty sure I nailed it with mate in 4.

Here is what I thought to be best:

1.Nc7+


1. ... Kd8


2.Re8+!

The sacrifice denies the king e8.

2. ... Bxe8


3.Ne6+


Now, the king wishes he had access to e8.

Kc8 4.Qc7 Mate



I honestly thought this was the fastest mate. There is in fact a way to mate one move faster!



White To Move ... Mate In 3 ... There is only one correct first move to do it.

Have at it !!!

my brain says it can't be done

The king is stalemated so Reveal Hidden Content

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
Below is a final position from one of my blitz games.

[fen]r3k3/pp4Q1/2b1N3/2p5/3p3P/3P2P1/PP3P2/4R1K1[/fen]

You can just stop now and try to find the mate in three or read on. (The solution is not given below.)



After the game was over, I took some time to look for the fastest mate possible.

There are (obviously) a lot of mates ...[text shortened]... ite To Move ... Mate In 3 ... There is only one correct first move to do it.

Have at it !!!

Looking quickly, does Re5 do the trick?

Yep. 1.Re5 with two variants: if bishop leaves a4-e8
2. Nc7+ Kd8
3. Re8
and in all other cases:
2. Rh5 ...
3. Rh8
Ofc if 1... Bd7 then immediately
2. Qf8

this is not so hard

1.knight d4
2knight c6
rook e8

Originally posted by youplayme
1.knight d4
2knight c6
rook e8

But King will take Rook on e8.

Re5, ***, Qf8++

-m.