No. 25: Danger at One's Own Table

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R4=5 (captures the Advisor, 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.
   • 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 for

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

   1. Black H7-5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red C1+7 (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 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black C6+4 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red C1=6 (captures the Advisor, 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

   • Not forcing: the defender has 49 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black C5=3

4. 4. Red E7-9 (threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 50 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black C6=3

5. 5. Red R7=9

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 43 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black -C=2

6. 6. Red R9=7 (threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 44 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black C2=3

7. 7. Red R7=9

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 43 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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 C6+4
  • If Black plays C6+1 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: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6+6 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
• 3. Black C5=3
  • If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 C6=3
  • If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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
• 5. Black -C=2
  • If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black C2=3
  • If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 22: Passing the Exam, Longing for Home
  13 moves
• No. 23: Pearl Lost in the Vast Sea
  7 moves
• No. 24: Faithful Steed Saves Its Master
  25 moves
• No. 26: Repaying Kindness Beyond Death
  11 moves
• No. 27: Lotus Root Broken, Threads Still Bind
  7 moves
• No. 28: Schemes and Nets Shine Together
  9 moves

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