No. 4: Cannon, Low Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Elephant and Soldier

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Advisor, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C8=2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black E3-5

2. 2. Red C2+3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black E5+7

3. 3. Red P5+1 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black K6+1

4. 4. Red C2=4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black P6=7

5. 5. Red K5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black E7-5

6. 6. Red K5=6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black K6=5

7. 7. Red C4-7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black K5-1 (captures the Soldier)

8. 8. Red C4=8

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black P7=6

9. 9. Red C8-1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black P6+1

10. 10. Red C8-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black K5=6

11. 11. Red C8=4 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black K6=5

12. 12. Red A6+5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black E5+3

13. 13. Red C4=5 (check)

    13. Black K5=6

14. 14. Red K6+1

    14. Black K6+1

15. 15. Red K6=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    15. Black E3-5

16. 16. Red A5+4

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    16. Black K6=5

17. 17. Red C5+7 (captures the Elephant)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    17. Black K5-1

18. 18. Red C5+1

    18. Black K5=4

19. 19. Red C5=7 (the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    19. Black K4+1

20. 20. Red A4-5

    20. Black K4+1

21. 21. Red A5+6 (the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    21. Black K4-1

22. 22. Red C7-7 (threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    22. Black K4+1

23. 23. Red C7=6 (checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

Variations and alternative defences

What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.

• 1. Black E3-5
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black E5+7
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black P6=7
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black E7-5
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P7=6
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P6+1
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black E5+3
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black E3-5
  • If Black plays E3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
• 17. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 18. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 20. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 22. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C7=6. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 1: Cannon and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Single Elephant
  8 moves
• No. 2: Cannon, Low Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Two Elephants and One Advisor
  22 moves
• No. 3: Cannon, Low Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and One Elephant
  14 moves
• No. 5: Cannon, Low Soldier, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and One Elephant
  37 moves
• No. 6: Cannon and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Single Elephant
  8 moves
• No. 7: Cannon, Two Low Soldiers, Two Elephants and One Advisor Draw by Rule vs Horse with Full Advisors and Elephants
  6 moves

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