Turning the Weapons Around

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C9+1 (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 E3+1 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red C6+8 (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 E1-3 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R6=1 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black R9+3 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red C6-9 (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.

   4. Black E3+1 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red C6=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • 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.

   5. Black P6+1 (captures the Cannon)

6. 6. Red P8+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black R9-2 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

7. 7. Red K5-1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black R9=4 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red P8+1 (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.

   8. Black R4-7

9. 9. Red C9=6 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black C1=9

10. 10. Red C6-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black C9-7

11. 11. Red C6=9

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    11. Black C9=2 (captures the Soldier)

12. 12. Red C9-2 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 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.

• 2. Black E1-3
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-1. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R9+3
  • If Black plays P6+1 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 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 C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black P6+1
  • If Black plays R9=6 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
• 6. Black R9-2
  • 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 R9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R9-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R9=4
  • 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 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 C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black R4-7
  • If Black plays E1-3 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
• 9. Black C1=9
  • 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 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 C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black C9-7
  • 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 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 C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black C9=2
  • 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 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 P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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