Checkmate Puzzles

Train forced mates one rung at a time, from quick finishes to deep combinations.

An 18-rung Mastery ladder

Mated Mastery organizes checkmate puzzles by depth instead of mixing every position into one queue. Start with a mate-in-1 warm-up, then work through mate-in-2, mate-in-3, mate-in-4, and mate-in-5 training bands.

Earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold

Each rung tracks your solved positions against permanent Bronze, Silver, and Gold thresholds. Your progress shows where you are strong and recommends a useful next rung without locking away the rest of the ladder.

Practice without streak pressure

Mastery is separate from the shared Daily challenge. You can repeat training puzzles, study harder mate depths, and leave whenever you like without risking your Daily streak or leaderboard result.

Common questions

How is a forced-mate puzzle different from a general tactics puzzle?

A general tactics puzzle may ask you to win material, gain an advantage, or find the best move. A forced-mate puzzle has a narrower finish: the side to move can guarantee checkmate within the stated number of moves against every legal defense.

What does mate in N mean?

Mate in N counts the attacking side's moves. Mate in 3 means the attacker can force checkmate on or before its third move, regardless of the defender's replies.

Can a checkmate puzzle have more than one correct line?

Yes. Some positions have multiple winning continuations. Mated accepts any move that preserves the required forced mate instead of requiring only one authored line.

Does Mastery affect my Daily streak?

No. Mastery is separate practice. Solves, mistakes, resets, and leaving a rung do not change your Daily result, streak, tries, or leaderboard standing.

Mated is a 21x20 Media game. The rest of our daily games are at 21x20.com.