No. 101: Thunder Shakes a Hundred Miles

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C2=6 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move, 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.
   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   1. Black R9-8 (captures the Chariot)

2. 2. Red R9=7 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black R2=3 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red C6=1 (captures the Chariot, 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.
   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black R3-5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red C1=7 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

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

   4. Black P5=4

5. 5. Red C7-2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black P4=3

6. 6. Red C7=1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black P3=4

7. 7. Red C1+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black P4=3

8. 8. Red C1-7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P3=4

9. 9. Red K4+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   9. Black P4+1

10. 10. Red C1-1

    10. Black P4=3

11. 11. Red C1=7 (captures the Soldier, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

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

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    11. Black K5=4

12. 12. Red P4=5 (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.

• 2. Black R2=3
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C6=1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C6=1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C6=1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with C6=1. Try it on the board
• 4. Black P5=4
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=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
• 5. Black P4=3
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 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
• 6. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 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
• 7. Black P4=3
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 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
• 8. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 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
• 9. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays P4=5 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 K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P4=3
  • If Black plays P4=5 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

Final position

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