Zhuge Borrows the Wind

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C4+1 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   1. Black E5+7 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R3=6 (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.

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

3. 3. Red R6+3 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • 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.

   3. Black R4-6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red C3+4 (captures the Horse, 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 Horse.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K5=6 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red C3=6 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black C9=5 (check, the only legal reply)

6. 6. Red K5=6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black P6=5

7. 7. Red C6-2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black K6=5

8. 8. Red C6=5 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black C5+3 (captures the Soldier)

9. 9. Red C5-4 (captures the Soldier, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black C5-5 (captures the Soldier)

10. 10. Red C5+7 (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.

    10. Black C6=4 (check, the General has no escape square)

11. 11. Red P6+1 (captures the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    What to watch out for

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

    11. Black K5-1 (captures the Cannon)

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 E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays R4-3 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R4-6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C3+4. Try it on the board
• 5. Black C9=5
  • 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
  • If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black P6=5
  • 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 P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K6=5
  • 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 P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black C5+3
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black C5-5
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black C6=4
  • If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

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• Crossing the Sea to Conquer the East
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• Galloping Horse Returns Home
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• Recognizing the General, Withdrawing the Army
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• Lantern Viewing on the Fifteenth Night
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• Blocking the Might at Xiling
  17 moves

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