Facing Soldiers, Running the Formation

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red +P=4 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

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

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

2. 2. Red P5=4 (captures the Horse, check, sacrifices the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red -C=4 (captures the Soldier, check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black P6+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red R2=4 (captures the Soldier, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K6=5

5. 5. Red C1=5 (captures the Soldier, check, sacrifices the Cannon)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black P5+1 (captures the Cannon)

6. 6. Red R3=5 (captures the Soldier, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black K5=4

7. 7. Red R5=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.

   7. Black C3=4

8. 8. Red R6+1 (captures the Cannon, 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 Cannon.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   8. Black K4=5

9. 9. Red R4=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 44 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black R3-4

10. 10. Red E5-7 (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.

    10. Black K5=6

11. 11. Red E7+9 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

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

    11. Black R3=4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

12. 12. Red R5+2

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black E9+7 (captures the Soldier)

13. 13. Red K6=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black R4=6

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 K6+1
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays K6=5 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
• 3. Black P6+1
  • 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 +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays R3=6 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
• 5. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black C3=4
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R3-4
  • If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black R3=4
  • If Black plays R3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R3-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black E9+7
  • If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black R4=6
  • If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Fallen Blossoms on Flowing Water (Minor)
  11 moves
• Young Friends Watch the Lanterns
  29 moves
• Ten-Sided Formation (Minor)
  13 moves
• Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao
  10 moves
• Sun Bin and Pang Juan Match Wits
  11 moves
• Turning Horse, Golden Spear
  8 moves

More from Hundred Game Manual →

Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文