Spring Thunder Wakes the Insects

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P5=6 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black K4+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red P8=7 (check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3-1 (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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black E5+3

4. 4. Red R3+1 (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.

   4. Black E3-5 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R3-6 (captures the Horse, check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

6. 6. Red R3+6 (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.

   6. Black E3-5 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R3-2 (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 E5+3 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red R3=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 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black R6=5 (check)

9. 9. Red R5-4 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices 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 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black H3+5 (captures the Chariot)

10. 10. Red K5+1 (captures the Horse)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Horse.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 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.

• 1. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=5. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black E5+3
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black E3-5
  • If Black plays C5-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black E5+3
  • If Black plays C6-1 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
• 6. Black E3-5
  • If Black plays C5-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black E5+3
  • If Black plays C6-1 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
• 8. Black R6=5
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
• 9. Black H3+5
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Grasping the Horse to Remonstrate
  14 moves
• Catching the Hare in the Moon
  26 moves
• Spring Hidden Within
  13 moves
• Stars Shift, the Dipper Turns
  15 moves
• Full Moon on the Fifteenth
  13 moves
• Slanting Moon and Three Stars
  7 moves

More from Xinwu Endgame Collection →

Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文