Smashing the Jade Cup at Hongmen

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P2=3 (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.

   1. Black K6-1

2. 2. Red R5-2 (sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • 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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black +E-5 (captures the Chariot)

3. 3. Red H2+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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black A6+5

4. 4. Red P3+1 (check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K6-1

5. 5. Red P3=2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black A5+4

6. 6. Red C1+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.

   6. Black K6+1

7. 7. Red P2=3 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K6+1

8. 8. Red H4-3 (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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black E5+3

9. 9. Red H3+5 (captures the Soldier, check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   9. Black K6=5

10. 10. Red C1-5 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black K5-1

11. 11. Red C1+4 (check)

    11. Black K5+1

12. 12. Red H5+3 (check, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    12. Black K5=6

13. 13. Red C1-4

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black R1-3 (captures the Soldier)

14. 14. Red H3-5 (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.

    14. Black K6=5

15. 15. Red E5+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 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Elephant stands where it can be captured.

    15. Black R1-2

16. 16. Red C1=5 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    16. Black R1=5

17. 17. Red C5+2 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    17. Black P3+1

18. 18. Red H5-6

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    18. Black P3+1

19. 19. Red H6-8

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 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 +E-5
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
• 3. Black A6+5
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
• 5. Black A5+4
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black E5+3
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black R1-3
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black R1-2
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=5. Try it on the board
• 17. Black P3+1
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 18. Black P3+1
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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