Recognizing the General, Withdrawing the Army

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -R=5 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   1. Black C1=5 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red P4+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.

   2. Black K5=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

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

4. 4. Red R5=6 (captures the Cannon)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black C5=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

5. 5. Red R6+3 (captures the Cannon)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black -P=4 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R4+4 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   6. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R4-1 (check, 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.

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

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

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black R5=2

9. 9. Red R6+6 (check)

   9. Black K6+1

10. 10. Red C1=7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black R2+1

11. 11. Red R6+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    11. Black R2=1 (captures the Elephant)

12. 12. Red R6=7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 16 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 C1=5
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+3. Try it on the board
• 3. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
• 4. Black C5=4
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=4 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
• 5. Black -P=4
  • If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+7. Try it on the board
• 8. Black R5=2
  • 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 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
• 9. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+7. Try it on the board
• 10. Black R2+1
  • 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black R2=1
  • 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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