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Mate in three

Longer mating attacks from real games.

Advanced · Checkmate patterns · 19 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Gukesh D, Divya Deshmukh, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Harika Dronavalli, Vidit Gujrathi.

Step 1

♝︎♝︎♚︎♚︎
The position

A mate in three needs a plan: often a check or a sacrifice to pull the king out, then the pieces close the net. Watch how each move leaves the opponent fewer choices.

Step 2

♝︎♝︎♚︎♚︎
The position

Gukesh D vs Arty Timofeev, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020. Gukesh from Chennai became the youngest undisputed World Champion in 2024, at just 18. Gukesh D plays White here. Look at the bishop on e2: what can it do?

Step 3

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The position before the moves

Moves: 72.Bf1

Gukesh D begins with the bishop from e2 to f1.

From the game Gukesh D – Arty Timofeev, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020.

Step 4

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The position before the moves

Moves: 72.Bf1 Kh1 73.Bg2+ Kh2 74.Bf4#

The moves: 72.Bf1 Kh1 73.Bg2+ Kh2 74.Bf4#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Gukesh D – Arty Timofeev, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020.

Step 5

♚︎♝︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position

Divya Deshmukh vs Je Perez Rodriguez, Women's Speed Chess Q2 2020. Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur won the FIDE Women's World Cup in 2025, at 19, and became a grandmaster. Divya Deshmukh plays White here. Look at the rook on g8: what can it do?

Step 6

♚︎♝︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 72.Rxd8+

Divya Deshmukh begins with the rook from g8 to d8. It captures the bishop on d8. It gives check.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Je Perez Rodriguez, Women's Speed Chess Q2 2020.

Step 7

♚︎♝︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 72.Rxd8+ Ka7 73.Rc8 Kxa6 74.Ra8#

The moves: 72.Rxd8+ Ka7 73.Rc8 Kxa6 74.Ra8#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Je Perez Rodriguez, Women's Speed Chess Q2 2020.

Step 8

♚︎♚︎♛︎
The position

Arjun Erigaisi vs Praggnanandhaa R, Speed Chess Super Swiss 2020. Praggnanandhaa from Chennai became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Praggnanandhaa R plays Black here. Look at the king on f4: what can it do?

Step 9

♚︎♚︎♛︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 81...Kg4

Praggnanandhaa R begins with the king from f4 to g4.

Step 10

♚︎♚︎♛︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 81...Kg4 82.Kh6 Kf5 83.Kh5 Qh7#

The moves: 81...Kg4 82.Kh6 Kf5 83.Kh5 Qh7#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Praggnanandhaa R, Speed Chess Super Swiss 2020.

Step 11

♟︎♚︎♜︎♚︎
The position

Le Tuan Minh vs Arjun Erigaisi, Bullet Chess Winners 2023. Arjun Erigaisi from Warangal became only the second Indian, after Anand, to cross a 2800 rating. Arjun Erigaisi plays Black here. Look at the pawn on f3: what can it do?

Step 12

♟︎♚︎♜︎♚︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 82...f2

Arjun Erigaisi begins with the pawn from f3 to f2.

Step 13

♟︎♚︎♜︎♚︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 82...f2 83.Kh5 f1=R 84.Kh4 Rh1#

The moves: 82...f2 83.Kh5 f1=R 84.Kh4 Rh1#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Le Tuan Minh – Arjun Erigaisi, Bullet Chess Winners 2023 .

Step 14

♞︎♚︎♜︎♜︎♚︎
The position

Harika Dronavalli vs T Jaskolka, Titled Tuesday (online) 2022. Harika Dronavalli won bronze at the Women's World Championship three times. Harika Dronavalli plays White here. Look at the knight on d4: what can it do?

Step 15

♞︎♚︎♜︎♜︎♚︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 78.Nb3+

Harika Dronavalli begins with the knight from d4 to b3. It gives check.

From the game Harika Dronavalli – T Jaskolka, Titled Tuesday (online) 2022.

Step 16

♞︎♚︎♜︎♜︎♚︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 78.Nb3+ Kb1 79.Rd1+ Ka2 80.Ra1#

The moves: 78.Nb3+ Kb1 79.Rd1+ Ka2 80.Ra1#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Harika Dronavalli – T Jaskolka, Titled Tuesday (online) 2022.

Step 17

♚︎♚︎♟︎
The position

Vidit Gujrathi vs Ruslan Kavyev, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020. Vidit Gujrathi from Nashik helped India win the Chess Olympiad gold in 2024. Vidit Gujrathi plays White here. Look at the pawn on g6: what can it do?

Step 18

♚︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 72.g7+

Vidit Gujrathi begins with the pawn from g6 to g7. It gives check.

From the game Vidit Gujrathi – Ruslan Kavyev, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020.

Step 19

♚︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 72.g7+ Kh7 73.g8=Q+ Kh6 74.Qg6#

The moves: 72.g7+ Kh7 73.g8=Q+ Kh6 74.Qg6#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Vidit Gujrathi – Ruslan Kavyev, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020.

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