Eight Wheels Driven Together

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -R=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for

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

   1. Black H7-6 (captures the Chariot)

2. 2. Red R1=8 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   2. Black C6=9 (check, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. 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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black R2-1 (captures the Chariot)

4. 4. Red P6+1 (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 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black R2-6

5. 5. Red P7+1 (sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black R2=3 (captures the Soldier)

6. 6. Red P6=7 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black E1-3 (captures the Soldier)

7. 7. Red A5+4 (captures the Horse)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black P4=5

8. 8. Red C1=3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P3=4

9. 9. Red C3=1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 19 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 H7-6
  • If Black plays +R=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -R=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. Try it on the board
• 2. Black C6=9
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • 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 C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R2-1
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
• 4. Black R2-6
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
• 5. Black R2=3
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
• 6. Black E1-3
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • 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 C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black P4=5
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 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
  • If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 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

Final position

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