Celebrating the Lantern Festival Together

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R2+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 R2=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 R3-8 (captures the Cannon, check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black A6+5

4. 4. Red R3+8 (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 A5-6

5. 5. Red C1=4 (captures the Advisor)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black P6=7

6. 6. Red P7=6 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black K4+1 (captures the Soldier)

7. 7. Red P6+1 (captures the Advisor, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red P6+1 (check)

   8. Black K5=6

9. 9. Red C4-8 (captures the Horse)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Cannon stands where it can be captured.

   9. Black P2+1 (threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red C4-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black P1=2

11. 11. Red R3-7 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black K6+1

12. 12. Red C4=8 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P2+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

13. 13. Red R3=7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 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 C7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 3. Black A6+5
  • If Black plays R5-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black P6=7
  • If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-1. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P2+1
  • If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P1=2
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 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
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays +P=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black P2+1
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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