Six States Vie for Supremacy

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R2=6 (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 for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   1. Black H5+4

2. 2. Red C2+7 (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.

   2. Black E7+9

3. 3. Red P4+1 (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.

   3. Black E5-7

4. 4. Red P4=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.

   4. Black C6-7 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red P3=4 (captures the Cannon, 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 Cannon.
   • 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.

   5. Black E9-7 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R6-2 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
   • 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.

   6. Black R6=4 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)

7. 7. 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 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black R4+1 (check, the only legal reply)

8. 8. Red K4+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 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black R4=8

9. 9. Red C2=1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 41 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black R8-9

10. 10. Red H9+7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 37 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black R8=9 (captures the Cannon)

11. 11. Red H7-5 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.

    11. Black E7+9

12. 12. Red P4=5 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out for

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

    12. Black R9=5 (captures the Soldier)

13. 13. Red P5+1 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    13. Black K4=5 (captures the Soldier)

14. 14. Red H5+6 (captures the Horse)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Horse.

    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 H5+4
  • If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black E5-7
  • If Black plays E9-7 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R6=4
  • If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R4+1
  • If Black plays R4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
• 8. Black R4=8
  • If Black plays R4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R8-9
  • If Black plays R8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=3. Try it on the board
• 10. Black R8=9
  • If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
• 11. Black E7+9
  • If Black plays H7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7+9 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7-8 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H7-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4+6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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