Gossamer Thread Strikes the Tiger

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R2+9 (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.

   1. Black E5-7

2. 2. Red R2=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.

   2. Black A5-6

3. 3. Red C1=4 (captures the Advisor)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black P3=4 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red C4-8 (captures the Horse, check, 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 Horse.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black R5-8

5. 5. Red P7+1 (captures the Elephant, 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 Elephant.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   5. Black K4+1

6. 6. Red R3=5 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black A4-5

7. 7. Red K6=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black P4+1

8. 8. Red R5-1 (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.

   8. Black K4+1

9. 9. Red C4-1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black P6+1

10. 10. Red E3+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black P7+1 (threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red E1-3 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black P6=5 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

12. 12. Red R5-7 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, 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

    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)

13. 13. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    13. Black P9+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 E5-7
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 3. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black A4-5
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • 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
• 7. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P6+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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P7+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 P6+1 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 P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black P6=5
  • 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 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
  • If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. 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 P9+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P9+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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