Finally Crossing the Deadly Pass

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R5=2 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black +P=5 (check, the only legal reply)

2. 2. Red K5=6 (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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black K5=6

3. 3. Red R2+7 (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

4. 4. Red R2-5 (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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black K6-1

5. 5. Red R2=4 (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.

   5. Black K6=5

6. 6. Red R4=3 (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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black K5=6

7. 7. Red R3+5 (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+1

8. 8. Red R3-6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black K6-1

9. 9. Red R3+6 (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.

   9. Black K6+1

10. 10. Red R3-4 (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 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black K6-1

11. 11. Red R3=4 (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.

    11. Black K6=5

12. 12. Red R4=8 (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 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black K5=6

13. 13. Red R8-4 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black P4+1

14. 14. Red P5=4 (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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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

15. 15. Red P4=5 (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 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    15. Black K5=4

16. 16. Red P5=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 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    16. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)

17. 17. Red P6=5 (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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    17. Black P4+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

18. 18. Red R8=6 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • 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.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    18. Black P5=4 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move)

19. 19. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 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.

• 1. Black +P=5
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+5. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+4. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 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 P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
• 15. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
• 16. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
• 17. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+8. Try it on the board
• 18. Black P5=4
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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