Ten-Sided Formation (Minor)

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red +R+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.

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

2. 2. Red -R+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.

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

3. 3. Red +R=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.

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

4. 4. 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.

   4. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R6-4 (captures the Horse)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black R1=6

6. 6. Red R6+2 (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 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black R6-7 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

7. 7. 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.

   7. Black K5=6

8. 8. 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.

   8. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red R4+3 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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

10. 10. Red R4=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.

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

11. 11. Red R5-8 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black P2=3 (check)

12. 12. Red K6+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black C1=5 (captures the Chariot)

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

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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.

• 5. 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 +P+1 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
• 6. Black R6-7
  • 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
• 9. 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
• 11. 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
• 12. 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

Final position

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• Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao
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