Mate-in-3 Compositions

Mate-in-3 is where calculation becomes real: you must see YOUR move, their forced reply, your follow-up, their forced reply, and the finish — five plies, held in your head before the first piece moves.

The compass that keeps you on course: at every step, prefer the reply-limiting moves. Checks first, then captures, then threats. If any link leaves them two escape routes, the machine jams.