Song and Chu Make Peace

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, a Horse, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P5=6 (captures the Advisor, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black H7+5

2. 2. Red P6+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black E7-5

3. 3. Red P2=3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Soldier stands where it can be captured.

   3. Black P8=7

4. 4. Red R5+1 (captures the Horse, 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 for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black P6=5 (check)

5. 5. Red R5-2 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, 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

   • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)

6. 6. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)

   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.

   6. Black -P=6

7. 7. Red P7+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black P6+1

8. 8. Red E9+7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P7=6 (check)

9. 9. Red K5-1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black -P=5

10. 10. Red E7-5 (captures the Soldier)

    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.

    10. Black E5+3 (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.

• 1. Black H7+5
  • If Black plays H7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+7. Try it on the board
• 2. Black E7-5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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
• 3. Black P8=7
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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
• 4. Black P6=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+4. 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 +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+4. Try it on the board
• 5. Black P4=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
• 6. Black -P=6
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black P6+1
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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
• 8. Black P7=6
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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
• 9. Black -P=5
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black E5+3
  • 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 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

Final position

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