Straightening the Tablet to Secure the State

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers. 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 16 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 14 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 R2-4 (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 13 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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black K5=6

7. 7. 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.

   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 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black K6-1

9. 9. 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 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black K6=5

10. 10. Red R3=6 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black P1=2 (threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red R6=5 (check)

    11. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)

12. 12. Red R5-2 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    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 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P6=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

13. 13. Red E3+5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    13. Black A5+6 (captures the Soldier)

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 P1=2 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
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays P1=2 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
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+7. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays P1=2 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
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays P1=2 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
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays P1=2 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
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
• 9. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays P1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+6. 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+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+6. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P1=2
  • 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 A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black A4-5
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black P6=5
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 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 K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black A5+6
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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=6 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 A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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