Window Ice Breaks the Heat

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R7-1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black E5+3 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R7-2 (captures the Elephant, 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 for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black C3+2 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

3. 3. Red R7-5 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black R7+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

4. 4. Red K4+1 (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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black P5+1 (captures the Advisor, check)

5. 5. Red A6+5 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black R7=3 (captures the Chariot)

6. 6. Red P3+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black R3-8

7. 7. Red P6=7 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K5+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 E5+3
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
• 2. Black C3+2
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=5. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R7+1
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
• 4. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black R7=3
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R3-8
  • If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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