Spring Hidden Within

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R1=4 (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.

   1. Black R3=6 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R4+2 (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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black H4+6 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red P5=4 (captures the Horse, check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black R8=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red R4+4 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K6+1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R9=4 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   5. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R4=5 (check)

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

7. 7. Red R5-4 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black H2-3

8. 8. Red R5+5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P4+1 (check, the only legal reply)

9. 9. Red K6=5 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black P4+1 (check, threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red K5+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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black P7=6 (check, the only legal reply)

11. 11. Red K5=4 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black H3+4 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

12. 12. Red R5-5 (sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works–

    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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black C3=5 (captures the Chariot)

13. 13. Red K4=5 (captures the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    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.

• 1. Black R3=6
  • If Black plays R8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black H4+6
  • If Black plays R8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R8=6
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black H2-3
  • If Black plays H2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. 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 P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P7=6
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
• 11. Black H3+4
  • 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 C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black C3=5
  • 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 C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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