No. 165: Meet Water, Build a Bridge

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C3+7 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

   1. Black R7-8 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red E5+3 (sacrifices the Elephant)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Elephant; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black R7+5 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red C2=6 (check, 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.

   3. Black R7=4

4. 4. Red P6+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black R4+2 (captures the Cannon)

5. 5. Red P6+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

   5. Black H6+4 (captures the Soldier)

6. 6. Red R4=6 (captures the Horse, check, sacrifices the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

   6. Black R4-6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R8+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black E1-3

8. 8. Red R8=7 (captures the Elephant, checkmate)

   Why it works

   • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

   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 R7-8
  • If Black plays H6+4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. Try it on the board
• 2. Black R7+5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R7=4
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black R4+2
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black H6+4
  • If Black plays R4-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R4-6
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 162: Zhu Yun Breaks the Railing
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• No. 163: Choosing Generals, Drilling Troops
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• No. 164: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light
  6 moves
• No. 166: Toppling the Enemy State at Once
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• No. 167: Victory and Conquered Land
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• No. 168: Swift as Lightning
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