Guarding Pu Pass

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red +C=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black -P=6 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 for

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

   2. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red P3+1 (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.

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

4. 4. Red P3+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.

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

5. 5. Red R3+9 (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.

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

6. 6. Red C1=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black P5=6 (captures the Cannon, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

7. 7. Red R3=5 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black R6=5 (check)

8. 8. Red R5-8 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)

9. 9. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black -P=5

10. 10. Red R1+8 (check)

    10. Black K6+1

11. 11. 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.

    11. Black K6-1

12. 12. Red R1=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P5+1 (check)

13. 13. Red R5-5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

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

    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 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black P6=5 (captures the Chariot, check)

14. 14. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    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 -P=6
  • If Black plays R6-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
• 4. Black E5-7
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black P5=6
  • If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R6=5
  • 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P4=5
  • 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 P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black -P=5
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P6=5
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Lantern Viewing on the Fifteenth Night
  15 moves
• Blocking the Might at Xiling
  17 moves
• Rescuing the Lord at Changban
  11 moves
• Brocade Pouch Saves the Lord
  12 moves
• Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg
  19 moves
• Golden Hook Fishes for the Moon
  15 moves

More from Hundred Game Manual →

Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文