Four Greybeards of Mount Shang

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C2+2 (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.

   1. Black E5-7 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red C3=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • 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.

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

3. 3. Red C5-5 (captures the Soldier, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Cannon stands where it can be captured.

   3. Black P5=4 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red H2+3 (check)

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

5. 5. Red H3-4 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

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

6. 6. Red H4+6 (captures the Advisor, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

7. 7. Red H6+7 (captures the Chariot, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K5-1

8. 8. Red H7-6 (check)

   8. Black K5+1

9. 9. Red H6-4 (check)

   9. Black K5-1

10. 10. Red H4+3 (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.

    10. Black K5+1

11. 11. Red C2-1 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

    11. Black R8-8 (captures the Cannon)

12. 12. Red R6-1 (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 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black R8=7 (captures the Horse)

13. 13. Red R6+6 (check)

    13. Black K5-1

14. 14. Red R6=3 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black P2=3

15. 15. Red R3-5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    15. Black P6+1 (check, the General has no escape square)

16. 16. Red R3-3 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    16. Black P6=7 (captures the Chariot)

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 A5+4
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black P5=4
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A4-5 instead: Red mates immediately with H2+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H6-5. Try it on the board
• 9. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black R8=7
  • If Black plays C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+6. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black P2=3
  • If Black plays C7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black P6+1
  • If Black plays C7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C7-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black P6=7
  • If Black plays P6=5 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 P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 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
  • If Black plays E7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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