Galier-Hermann

west Germany 1965

It is nice, however black can play 1...Rxe7 instead of 1...Nxe7 or black can play 2...Ng6 to avoid the mate in 3.  :)

nice one

no because Rxe7 loses the queen so he is still lost

cool deflection

I agree.  :)  But black must give up the queen in order to avoid the mate in 3.  1. Ne7+ Rxe7 2. Rxf2 Ra6 and there is no mate on move 3 for white.  :)

In the puzzle I agree that white made the best 3 moves given how black responded, but black did not make the best responses.  'Mate in 3' titles are given to those puzzles that assume the best moves are made by the other side.  :)  Or in other words the other side has no way to avoid mate in 3 moves.  :)  Black can avoid the mate in 3 in this puzzle with the best plays.  :)

if white avoids mate white still gets queen

True.  :)

But the title says 'mate in 3'.  The title is incorrect since black can give up the queen.  :)

but it is likely that black would not see whites next move and take with the knight because he does not want to lose his queen.

That is irrelevant, kungfoodchef.  The stipulation "Mate in 3" is taken to mean that mate is forced in 3 moves, no matter what replies are available to the defender.  This problem really ought to be titled "White to play and win."

me gusto mucho el problema, pero estoy de acuerdo con tonydal :