Five Hegemons Honor the Zhou

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red +P+1 (check, 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.

   1. Black E5-7 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red P2=3 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, 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.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red +R+4 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red +R-1 (check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   4. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red +R+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   5. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red -R+4 (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.

   6. Black E7-9 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R1-1 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, 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.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red R1+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   8. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red -P+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

   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.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   9. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red C1+5 (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.

    10. Black R6-6 (threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red C1=4 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black H5-7

12. 12. Red R1-2

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black R5=3 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

13. 13. Red R1=5 (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 K5=4 (threatens mate next move)

14. 14. Red R5=6 (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.

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

15. 15. Red C4-7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    15. Black R3+7 (threatens mate next move)

16. 16. Red R6-5 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

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

    16. Black R3=5 (check)

17. 17. Red R6=5 (sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works–

    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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    17. Black R5+1 (captures the Chariot, check)

18. 18. Red K5+1 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 10 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 K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black H5-7
  • 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 P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black R5=3
  • 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 P4=3 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 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
• 15. Black R3+7
  • 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 P4=3 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 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
• 16. Black R3=5
  • If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 17. Black R5+1
  • 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
  • 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

Final position

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