Four Students Seek a Teacher

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P6+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.

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

2. 2. Red P6+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 for

   • Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

   2. Black A5-4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3=5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   3. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red H8+6 (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 K5=6 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red C8+5 (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.

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

6. 6. Red R5=4 (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.
   • 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.

   6. Black K6+1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red C8-2 (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.

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

8. 8. Red P5+1 (captures the Elephant, 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 Elephant.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

9. 9. Red P5=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.

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

10. 10. Red C8+2 (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.

    10. Black C3-9 (threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out for

    • Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

    11. Black R6-5 (captures the Soldier)

12. 12. Red H6+7 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

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

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black A5+6

13. 13. Red H7-6 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    13. Black A4+5

14. 14. Red H6+8 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black H6+5 (check)

15. 15. Red K6=5 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

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

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    15. Black K6=5

16. 16. Red H8-6 (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.

    16. Black K5=6

17. 17. Red H6+4 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Horse)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    17. Black K6+1 (captures the Horse)

18. 18. Red K5=4 (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.

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.

• 3. Black A6+5
  • If Black plays E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black A5+6
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6-8 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
• 14. Black H6+5
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6-8 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
• 15. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-2 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+6. Try it on the board
• 16. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 17. Black K6+1
  • 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
  • If Black plays C6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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