___ in three

MATE

This phrase is called out when a chess player delivers checkmate using just a queen and king against a lone king. Think of the minimum moves needed to secure victory.

This clue plays on the phrase "checkmate in three," a chess term meaning a player will win in three moves. The blank suggests you're looking for a single word that fits before "in three," and "mate" is the key part of "checkmate." It’s a clever way to hint at the answer by dropping the "check" and leaving just "mate.