Two Butterflies Flutter

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P6+1 (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.

   1. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)

2. 2. Red H7+8 (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.

   2. Black K4=5

3. 3. Red H6+7 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

4. 4. Red H7-5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K4=5

5. 5. Red H5+7 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

6. 6. Red R4+1 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   6. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red H8-7 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red R4=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for

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

   8. Black A5-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red -H-5 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   9. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red H5+4 (captures the Advisor, check)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    10. Black E7-5 (threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red R3+8 (check)

    11. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)

12. 12. Red R3=5 (captures the Advisor, check)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    12. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)

13. 13. Red R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    13. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)

14. 14. Red R5=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

    What to watch out for

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

    14. Black K4-1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

15. 15. Red H7-5 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    15. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)

16. 16. Red H5-6 (check)

    16. Black K4=5

17. 17. Red H6-5 (check)

    17. Black K5=6

18. 18. Red H5-7 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Horse)

    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.

    18. Black P3+1 (captures the Horse)

19. 19. Red C5=4 (check)

    19. Black K6+1 (captures the Horse)

20. 20. Red C4-1 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    20. Black K6=5

21. 21. Red C4=6 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

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

    21. Black P3+1

22. 22. Red C6+2

    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 K5=4
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+7. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black E7-5
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black A4+5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4-5. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4-5. Try it on the board
• 16. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 17. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 18. Black P3+1
  • 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
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-1 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
• 19. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 20. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with A5+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with A5+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with A5+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with A5+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with A5+4. Try it on the board
• 21. Black P3+1
  • 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
  • If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-1 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

Final position

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