Golden Hook Fishes for the Moon

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -R=5 (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 P4=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R2=5 (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.

   2. Black +H-5 (captures the Chariot)

3. 3. Red +P=7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black C4=7 (captures the Soldier)

4. 4. Red P6+1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.
   • 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.

   4. Black H5-4

5. 5. Red C2=9 (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.

   5. Black R5=1

6. 6. Red C9=6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 42 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black P5=4

7. 7. Red C6+4 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black R1=5

8. 8. Red P7=6 (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.

   8. Black C7=4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red C6+3 (captures the Cannon)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

   What to watch out for

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

   9. Black R5+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

10. 10. Red K6+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black R5-3

11. 11. Red P8=7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black P9=8

12. 12. Red P6=5 (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.

    12. Black R5-5 (captures the Soldier)

13. 13. Red P4=5 (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 K5+1 (captures the Soldier)

14. 14. 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.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)

15. 15. Red C6-6 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 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 P4=5
  • If Black plays R5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black C4=7
  • 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=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=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black H5-4
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. 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 P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
• 5. Black R5=1
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+7. 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 C9+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+7. Try it on the board
• 6. Black P5=4
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R1=5
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
• 9. 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=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=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black R5-3
  • 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
• 11. Black P9=8
  • If Black plays P9+1 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=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=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
• 12. Black R5-5
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7+1. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7+1. Try it on the board
• 14. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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