Converging Attack on Wancheng

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   1. Black A6+5 (captures the Soldier)

2. 2. Red R2+2 (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 A5-6

3. 3. Red H2+4 (check)

   3. Black K5=4

4. 4. Red R2=4 (captures the Advisor, check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K4+1

5. 5. Red R4-1 (check)

   5. Black K4+1

6. 6. Red R4=7 (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 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black P5+1 (check)

7. 7. Red K4=5 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black R1=5 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)

8. 8. Red K5=4 (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 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black R5=6 (check, the only legal reply)

9. 9. Red K4=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 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black R6-5 (captures the Horse)

10. 10. Red R7-6 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black K4-1

11. 11. Red R7=6 (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.

    11. Black K4=5

12. 12. Red C3=5 (check)

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    12. Black E5+7

13. 13. Red C5=1 (captures the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black P7=6

14. 14. Red K5=6

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black P6+1

15. 15. Red R6-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 25 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 A6+5
  • If Black plays K5=4 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
• 2. Black A5-6
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2-1. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R1=5
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
• 8. Black R5=6
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R6-5
  • If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+5. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=6. Try it on the board
• 12. 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 K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. 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 E7-9 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black P6+1
  • 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 E7-9 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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