No. 47: Frontier Guard Asks Leave to Return

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C9=1 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black R9-1 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red P5=4 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

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

   2. Black A5+6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R8=4 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black K6-1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red C1=4 (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.
   • 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.

   4. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red H6+4 (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 R9-1
  • If Black plays R9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 44: Near Ones Rejoice, Far Ones Come
  8 moves
• No. 45: Meet Water, Build a Bridge
  15 moves
• No. 46: Befriend the Far, Attack the Near
  9 moves
• No. 48: Sleeping on Brushwood, Tasting Gall
  8 moves
• No. 49: Striding Alone from the Camp
  12 moves
• No. 50: The Qin Deer Breaks Loose
  8 moves

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