Lantern Viewing on the Fifteenth Night

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R1+3 (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.

   1. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red C2+3 (check)

   2. Black -A+5 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. 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.

   3. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red R3=5 (captures the Soldier, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

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

   4. Black E3-5 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R5+1 (captures the Elephant, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

6. 6. Red R5=6 (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.

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

7. 7. Red C2=5 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black R2=5 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red R1=4 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 Advisor.
   • 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.

   8. Black K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red R6+2 (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.

   9. Black R5-1 (threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red R6=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.

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

11. 11. Red R5-1 (check)

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

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

12. 12. Red R5=9 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black C1=3 (threatens mate next move)

13. 13. Red R9-8

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    13. Black P4+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

14. 14. Red R9=7 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    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 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black P4=3 (captures the Chariot)

15. 15. Red P5+1

    Why it works–

    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.

• 2. Black -A+5
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black E3-5
  • If Black plays +A-5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays +A-5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays R2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R2=5
  • If Black plays +A-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R5-1
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays R1=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black C1=3
  • If Black plays C1=2 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=5 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
  • If Black plays C1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P4+1
  • If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black P4=3
  • If Black plays P4=5 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 P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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• Rescuing the Lord at Changban
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