Surpassing All Peers

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R1+6 (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.

   1. Black -H-8 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R1=2 (captures the Horse, check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black H6-7 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red H2+4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black C6=3 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

4. 4. Red R2-9 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   4. Black R4+1 (check)

5. 5. Red K5=6 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black C3=8 (captures the Chariot)

6. 6. Red K6=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black C8-7

7. 7. Red H4+5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black C8=5 (check)

8. 8. Red H5+7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black A5+4

9. 9. Red H7+9

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black C5-2

10. 10. Red H9+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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.

    10. Black H7+5 (check)

11. 11. Red K5=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 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black H5-3 (captures the Horse)

12. 12. Red C9+6 (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.
    • 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.

    12. Black H3+1

13. 13. Red C9=5 (captures the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Cannon stands where it can be captured.

    13. Black H1+2

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 -H-8
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
• 2. Black H6-7
  • If Black plays H6-5 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
• 3. Black C6=3
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black R4+1
  • If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black C3=8
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black C8-7
  • If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black C8=5
  • If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black A5+4
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black C5-2
  • If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black H7+5
  • If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5+2 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
• 11. Black H5-3
  • If Black plays H5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+6 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+4 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
• 13. Black H1+2
  • If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H1+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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