Four Steeds Subdue the Barbarians

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -R=4 (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.

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

2. 2. Red R1+2 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black E5-7 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R1=3 (captures the Elephant, check, 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 Elephant.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red R4+3 (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.

   4. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R4=5 (check)

   5. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R5=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.

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

7. 7. Red R3=5 (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 K5=6 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red R6-1 (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.

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

9. 9. Red R5=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.

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

10. 10. Red R6-8 (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.

    10. Black -P+1

11. 11. Red R6+1 (sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works–

    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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black +P=4 (captures the Chariot)

12. 12. Red R4=5 (check)

    12. Black K5=6

13. 13. Red K4=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move)

14. 14. Red R5-8 (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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)

15. 15. Red K5+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 K6=5
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black E5-7
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
• 10. Black -P+1
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=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: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 11. Black +P=4
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=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: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays P4+1 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
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. 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
• 14. Black P4=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 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
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. 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 P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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