Devoting Oneself Utterly

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R8=6 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

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

2. 2. Red H2+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.

   2. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • 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 C9=6 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red R4+1 (captures the Cannon, 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 Cannon.
   • 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.

   4. Black A5+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red H3-5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

6. 6. Red R6+1 (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 K5+1 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red C8=5 (check)

   7. Black K5+1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red C5-4 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 Chariot.
   • 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.

   8. Black P4=5 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red R6-2 (captures the Advisor, 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 Advisor.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   9. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red E3+5 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black P3=4 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

11. 11. Red R6-6 (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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black P5=4 (captures the Chariot, check)

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

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P1+1

13. 13. Red P5+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black E3+1

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 K4=5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C8=6. Try it on the board
• 3. Black C9=6
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 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 P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black P5=4
  • 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 P1+1 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
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black P1+1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black E3+1
  • If Black plays P1+1 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
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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