Tsume Shogi Puzzle 6: Mate in 3

Mate in 3 Theme: Two-rook ladder

Black to move and mate in 3. Black has two rooks in hand. Every attacking move must give check, and the defender always plays the toughest reply. Three moves of alternating play: your check, the best defense, your mate.

Mate in 3. Black to move.

Solve it on the board above and the explanation appears automatically. If you are stuck, the Show solution button plays the line through, or open the spoiler below.

Reveal the solution
  1. Black: R*2i (R*2i)
  2. White: K-1b (2a1b)
  3. Black: R*1c (R*1c)

The first rook checks from the bottom of the file and drives the king to the edge. The second rook drops in close, protected by the pawn, for mate.

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