Sending Troops by the Side Road

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R2+5 (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

2. 2. Red C4=5 (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.

   2. Black -P+1 (captures the Cannon)

3. 3. Red R4+7 (captures the Advisor, 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 Advisor.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

4. 4. Red R4=5 (check)

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

5. 5. Red R5=6 (captures the Advisor, 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 Advisor.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   5. Black K4=5

6. 6. Red R2=5 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black K5=6

7. 7. Red R6-1 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   7. Black K6+1

8. 8. Red R5=4 (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.

   8. Black K6=5

9. 9. Red R6-6 (captures the Cannon)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black R1=6

10. 10. Red R6+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 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black R6-5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red R6=5 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    11. Black K5=6

12. 12. Red R5=4 (check, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    12. Black K6=5

13. 13. Red R4+4 (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.

    13. Black K5-1

14. 14. Red R4-3

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    14. Black P1=2 (threatens mate next move)

15. 15. Red R4=5 (check)

    15. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)

16. 16. Red R5-5 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

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

    16. Black P2=3 (check)

17. 17. Red K6+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    17. Black C1=5 (captures the Chariot)

18. 18. Red K6=5 (captures the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    18. Black E7-5

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 -P+1
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A4+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+7. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R1=6
  • If Black plays P1=2 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
  • If Black plays C1=4 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
• 10. Black R6-5
  • If Black plays P1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. 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 C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays P1=2 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
  • If Black plays C1=4 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
• 14. Black P1=2
  • 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
  • If Black plays C1=4 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
• 15. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black P2=3
  • If Black plays P2=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
  • If Black plays C1=4 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
• 17. Black C1=5
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 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
  • 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
• 18. Black E7-5
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=2 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 P9+1 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
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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