Preserving Supreme Harmony

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R1+4 (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.

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

2. 2. Red R1=3 (captures the Elephant, 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.
   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
   • 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 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red H3+4 (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.

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

4. 4. Red H4-6 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

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

5. 5. Red H6+8 (check, sacrifices the Horse)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black R2-6 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R2=6 (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.

   6. Black R2=4

7. 7. Red R3-4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black A4+5

8. 8. Red R6-4 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   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 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black R4+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red R3=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

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

   9. Black R4-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red P7=6 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 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 E5-7
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=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 R2+2. Try it on the board
• 5. Black R2-6
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R2=4
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black A4+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
• 8. Black R4+6
  • 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 R4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R4-4
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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