Dragonfly Perches on the Fishing Rod

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Chariot, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C1+2 (check)

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

2. 2. Red C1-1 (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.

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

3. 3. Red C3+1 (check)

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

4. 4. Red R2+2 (check)

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

5. 5. Red C1-1 (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.

   5. Black C6-1 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R2-1 (check)

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

7. 7. 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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   7. Black R6+5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

8. 8. Red R4-7 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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

9. 9. Red R4+8 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

   9. Black K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red C3-9

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black -P+1

11. 11. Red C3=8 (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.

    11. Black -P+1

12. 12. Red C1=9

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    12. Black -P=4

13. 13. Red C9-6

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    13. Black P4+1 (threatens mate next move)

14. 14. Red C8+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 9 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 K5+1
  • If Black plays A6+5 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+1. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
• 3. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays A6+5 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+1. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black C6-1
  • If Black plays C6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3-2. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays R6-2 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
• 7. Black R6+5
  • If Black plays P1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+1. 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=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+1. 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 -P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P1=2
  • 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 -P+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 C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3-2. Try it on the board
• 10. Black -P+1
  • 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 +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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. 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 -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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. 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 -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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P4+1
  • 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 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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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