Mate in Three

BlueEyedRook vs. NN

Sept. 2006

www.redhotpawn.com

(White to move -- Mate in Three)

I find "Mate In Threes" to be the "magic problems" for me. "Mate In Twos" are generally too easy. A player will long resign before any of them turn up for me to "solve" them. "Mate In Fours," however, are a tad too difficult to catch -- They easily fall under the radar screen and I almost never catch them. "Mate In Threes" offer that perfect compromise -- hard enough that opponents will miss, but not so difficult to go unnoticed. This game is a perfect example.

If you chose 1. Qg6+, I guess I can give you half credit. Ol' Chessmaster gives this as Mate in Seven (way far above my chess understanding!). The correct moves are: 1. Bg6+ Ke7. 2. Qxg7+ Rf7. 3. Qxf7# 1-0 (See Left).