No. 35: Dragon Churns the Pool's Depths

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C5+4 (captures the Soldier, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
   • 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.
   • The Cannon stands where it can be captured.

   1. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R8=5 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   2. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R5+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.

   3. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red R6+4 (check)

   4. Black H3-5 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R5=4 (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.
   • 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.

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

6. 6. Red R6+1 (captures the Advisor, 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.
   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
   • 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 R6=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

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

• Variation 1, from move 1: 1. R6+5+ H3-4 2. C5+4+ A6+5 3. R8=5+ K5=6 4. R5+1+ K6+1 5. R5=4+ K6-1 6. H7+6+ K6+1 7. C8-1# Try it on the board
• Variation 2, from move 2: E5-7 3. H7+5+ A6+5 4. R8=5+ K5=6 5. R5+1+ K6+1 6. R5=4# Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 32: Soldiers and Horses Like Clouds
  15 moves
• No. 33: Plans Decide Battles a Thousand Miles Away
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• No. 34: Stealing Leisure Amid Haste
  12 moves
• No. 36: Crane Calls from the Deep Marsh
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• No. 37: Harm Others to Secure Oneself
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• No. 38: A Hundred Schemes, No Way Out
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