No. 44: Near Ones Rejoice, Far Ones Come

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R4+1 (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.

   1. Black K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red P4+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.

   2. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R8=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

   3. Black C9=6 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

4. 4. Red C1=4 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

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

   4. Black C6=1 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red P3=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.

   5. Black C1=6 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red P4+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red P4+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. 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 K6+1
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black C6=1
  • If Black plays C6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6+3 instead: Red mates immediately with P3=4. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 41: Subduing the Distant Court
  9 moves
• No. 42: Stars That Never Meet
  3 moves
• No. 43: Utter Loyalty to the Nation
  5 moves
• No. 45: Meet Water, Build a Bridge
  15 moves
• No. 46: Befriend the Far, Attack the Near
  9 moves
• No. 47: Frontier Guard Asks Leave to Return
  5 moves

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