Tsume Shogi Puzzle 9: Mate in 3

Mate in 3 Theme: Edge rook, dragon mate

Black to move and mate in 3. Black has a rook 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*9b (R*9b)
  2. White: K-8a (9a8a)
  3. Black: +R-7b (1b7b)

The dragon on 1b defends the rook drop on 9b, so the king must step to 8a. The dragon then sweeps along the rank to 7b for mate.

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