Purple Swallow Darts Through the Curtain

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R5=3 (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 48 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black R8+1 (check)

2. 2. Red K5+1 (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 47 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black R8-8

3. 3. Red R3+3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black C2-8

4. 4. Red P4+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.

   4. Black K6=5

5. 5. Red R7-6 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black +P=2

6. 6. Red R7=3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black R8+7 (check)

7. 7. Red -R-1 (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.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black R8=7 (captures the Chariot, check)

8. 8. Red R3-6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black R4+6 (check)

9. 9. Red K5=6 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black C2=6 (captures the Soldier)

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 R8+1
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
• 2. Black R8-8
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+4. Try it on the board
• 3. Black C2-8
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black +P=2
  • If Black plays +P+1 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 C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R8+7
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=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 P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R8=7
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with +R+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with +R+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with +R+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with +R+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8-1 instead: Red mates immediately with +R+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R8-2 instead: Red mates immediately with +R+1. Try it on the board
• 8. Black R4+6
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P1+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
• 9. Black C2=6
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=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 P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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