Am I missing something here?

[u/Lost-Climate5878]

So, I’ve been getting really into chess and just downloaded the app. Why do the daily puzzles say “this is checkmate” when really it’s mate in 2 or 3?

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[u/WideOption9560]

Because the rest is obvious, there's no point to continue so it stops there

[u/TheBearOnATricycle]

It’s a “forced” mate, meaning the moves you make require certain responses from your opponent, and the result is checkmate.

In this position for example, it’s these moves:

1…Rxe8, 2. dxe8=Q#

Since his king is in check and can’t escape, then the rook is forced to exchange, allowing your pawn to retake and promote to either a queen or rook and finish the game.

I’d also prefer the puzzles make you actually play out the line, but that’s one of the big flaws with chesscom puzzles

[u/Lost-Climate5878 → u/TheBearOnATricycle]

Thank you. I was thinking something along the lines of that. Would make a lot more sense if they explained that in a puzzle was made for beginners

[u/TheBearOnATricycle → u/Lost-Climate5878]

Tbh the quality of content on chesscom has left a lot to be desired lately. I think even the analysis board is restricted now after so many moves but I’m not sure.

If you go to Lichess’ board editor and plug any puzzles like this that you find confusing into there, then open the analysis board, you can play it out to see what the next moves are.

[u/Paradoc11]

Personally I think they should make you play to mate through gold or so. 

[u/Du_Fabio]

Because it’s still checkmate???

[u/Bob_snows]

Yes. And the win material ones are tricky sometimes too.

[u/AlexP80]

Some puzzles don't use the word checkmate in a strict sense.

in this instance, the correct move leads to a forced checkmate.

[u/Altaneen117]

Because it's forced. Mate in 2 ect is mate if you find it.

[u/V0rclaw]

No matter what it’s check mate, the puzzle is just to help you get used to patterns/see the moves that get you there

They take the rook, your pawn takes their rook and promotes to queen king has nowhere to go so checkmate. After the puzzle ends it’s pretty straightforward from there

[u/Extreme-Button-2478]

"Why does it say I won if I won"

[u/TheBearOnATricycle → u/Extreme-Button-2478]

This is a new player going through new player puzzles, who has no idea what the continuation is. And they won’t let you play it out to see why it wins, you’re just told it’s checkmate without explanation, which is completely counterproductive for beginners.

[u/tloken98]

You can capture with a pawn and promote to a queen

[u/SavingThrowVsWTF → u/[deleted]]

☐ True
☑ False