Meeting on a Narrow Road

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Cannons, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C3+2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black C5+2

2. 2. Red C3+2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black C7+1

3. 3. Red C5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black C7+1

4. 4. Red C5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   4. Black C5-1

5. 5. Red C5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black C5-1

6. 6. Red C5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black C7-1

7. 7. Red C3+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black C7-1

8. 8. Red C3+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black C7-1

9. 9. Red C3+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black P4=3

10. 10. Red K5=6 (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 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black P3+1 (check)

11. 11. Red K6+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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black C7=8

12. 12. Red P6+1 (checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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 C5+2
  • 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 C5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5+3 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
• 2. Black C7+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 C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5-2 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
• 3. Black C7+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 C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5-2 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
• 4. Black C5-1
  • 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 C5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
• 5. Black C5-1
  • 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
• 6. Black C7-1
  • 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
• 7. Black C7-1
  • 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+3. Try it on the board
• 8. Black C7-1
  • 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+2. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P4=3
  • 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+1. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P3+1
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
• 11. Black C7=8
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board

Final position

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