Twenty Three-Move Problems

In each of the puzzles below, White must win the game (by mate or explosion) in three moves. Click and drag to highlight the solutions.

r1bqkb2/p3p3/2n2pp1/1p6/Q2N2P1/2PpP3/PP1P1P1P/R1B1K2R w

Solution: 1. Qb4
   1. ... Nxb4 2. Nc6 followed by 3. Nxd8## or 3. Nxe7##
   1. ... Qd6 2. Nxc6 followed by 3. Qxe7## or 3. Qxf8##
   1. ... e6 (or e5) 2. Qxf8##
   1. ... other 2. Qxe7##

r2k3r/pp1p3p/2nb1ppn/4p3/6P1/1QP1P2P/PP1P1P2/R1B1KB1R w

Solution: 1. Qb6+ axb6 2. Bb5

rn3rk1/1pp2ppp/8/p2p4/4P3/8/1PP2P1P/R1B1K2R w

Solution: 1. Bh6 gxh6 2. Rg1+ Kh8 3. Rg8#

8/8/8/8/8/3Bp3/4K3/4k1B1 w

Solution: 1. Kd1 e2 2. Kc1

rnb1k2r/pp1p3p/2pb2p1/8/1P6/3BP3/PBPP1nPP/R2QKR2 w

Solution: 1. Qg4
1. ... Nxg4 2. Rf7
1. ... Kf8 2. Bg7+

8/1p6/p5p1/k1B1p3/2P1P3/1P4K1/8/8 w

Solution: 1. Kh4 g5+ 2. Kg4

rnbqkbnr/pppp1pp1/8/4p3/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w

Solution: 1. Qg4 f5 2. Qg6+

rnbqkb1r/ppp1ppp1/5n1p/3p4/8/3BPQ2/PPPP1PPP/RNB1K1NR w

Solution: 1. Bg6 Kd7 2. Bf5+ Ke8 3. Bd7#

8/3p4/2k5/8/8/1R6/8/K7 w

Solution: 1. Rb5
   1. ... Kc7 2. Rb7+
   1. ... Kd6 2. Rd5+
   1. ... d6 2. Rb6+

7k/5K1p/8/7P/6N1/8/8/8 w

Solution: 1. Nf6 h6 2. Ng8

6r1/6k1/8/pp2ppN1/PPP1P3/8/1B3P2/3R3K w

Solution: 1. Rd7+
   1. ... Kf8 2. Ne6+ Ke8 3. Re7#
   1. ... Kh6 2. Rh7+ Kg6 3. exf5##
   1. ... Kh8 2. Rh7#

8/8/p7/4B2p/P6P/3p4/3Kk3/3Q4 w

Solution: 1. Kc1+
1. ... Kd2 2. a5
1. ... Kf2 2. Qf1+

r1k5/p2R1pp1/8/1Ppp4/8/2P5/P1KP1PP1/8 w

Solution: 1. Rd8+ Kc7 2. b6+

r1b2bnr/1p1p1k1p/p3ppp1/1B6/8/2N1P3/PPPP1PPP/R1B1K2R w

Solution: 1. Ne4 f5 2. Ng5+

r2k3r/1p1B4/p5pp/4p3/8/2NP1P1N/1P4PP/R3K2R w

Solution: 1. Nd5 ... then 2. Rc1 ... then 3. Rc8#

rnbq1b1r/ppNk2pp/3p1p1n/4p3/8/4P3/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R w

Solution: 1. Bb5+ Ke7 2. Ne6

r4r2/pp4kp/4p1p1/8/3P2n1/5P2/PPP3PP/R1B1K2R w

Solution: 1. Bh6+ Kh8 (or Kf5) 2. Bg6+

rnbq1knr/p1N4p/2pp1pp1/1p6/1b4Q1/2P1P3/PP1P1PPP/R1B1KB1R w

Solution: 1. Ne6+ Bxe6 2. Qe6 Nh6 3. Qf7#

r1b2b1r/pp2pk1p/3p1pp1/1B6/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/R1B1K2R w

Solution: 1. Be8+
1. ... Ke6 2. e5
1. ... Kg8 2. Bf7+

r1bq1bnr/ppppk1p1/2nNpp2/7p/8/4P3/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w

Solution: 1. Bc4 e5 2. Be6