Seizing the Dragon Underwater

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -R=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for

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

   1. Black R4-2 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red C4=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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black R4+3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

3. 3. Red C6-9 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
   • 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.

   3. Black C7-3 (captures the Chariot)

4. 4. Red E5+3 (captures the Cannon)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

   What to watch out for

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

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

5. 5. Red C6+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 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black +P=4 (check, the only legal reply)

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

   6. Black P6=5

7. 7. Red C3=6 (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.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black P5=4 (captures the Cannon, check)

8. 8. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P3=4 (captures the Cannon, check)

9. 9. Red K6=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 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.

• 2. Black R4+3
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
• 3. Black C7-3
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. 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 C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
• 4. Black +P+1
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. 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 P6=5 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 P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black +P=4
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. 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: Red mates immediately with C3=6. 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 P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. Try it on the board
• 6. Black P6=5
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays P2+1 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 P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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