Lost on the Way to Peach Blossom Spring

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P4=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

2. 2. Red P5+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black K4=5 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red P7+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R5=6 (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.
   • 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.

   5. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red P7=6 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R6=5 (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.

   7. Black E3+5 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red R5+1 (captures the Elephant, 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.
   • 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 for

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

   8. Black E7+5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red C1=5 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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

10. 10. Red C5-5 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    10. Black E3-5

11. 11. Red E5+3 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black E5+3

12. 12. Red E3-5 (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.

    12. Black E3-5

13. 13. Red E5+7 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black E5+3

14. 14. Red E7-5 (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.

    14. Black E3-5

15. 15. Red E5-7 (captures the Chariot, check, the General has no escape square)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    15. Black E5+7 (captures the Soldier)

16. 16. Red E7+5 (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.

    16. Black E7-5

17. 17. Red E5-3 (check, the General has no escape square)

    Why it works

    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    17. Black E5+3

18. 18. Red C5=2

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    18. Black E3-1 (captures the Soldier)

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 K4=5
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black E3+5
  • If Black plays E7+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black E5+3
  • 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
• 11. Black E5+3
  • 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
• 13. Black E5+3
  • 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
• 15. Black E5+7
  • 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
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 17. Black E5+3
  • 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
• 18. Black E3-1
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • 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 E3-5 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

Final position

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