Young Friends Watch the Lanterns

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R2+5 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   1. Black E5-7 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red R2=3 (captures the Elephant, 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.
   • 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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3-8 (captures the Cannon, check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black A6+5

4. 4. Red R3+8 (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.

   4. Black A5-6

5. 5. Red C1=4 (captures the Advisor)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black P6=7

6. 6. Red P7=6 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black K4+1 (captures the Soldier)

7. 7. Red P6+1 (captures the Advisor, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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

8. 8. Red P6+1 (check)

   8. Black K5=6

9. 9. Red C4-8 (captures the Horse)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Cannon stands where it can be captured.

   9. Black P2+1 (threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red C4-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black P1=2

11. 11. Red R3-7 (captures the Soldier, 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

    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black K6+1

12. 12. Red C4=8 (captures the Soldier, 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.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P2+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

13. 13. Red R3=7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black R5-2

14. 14. Red K6+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black R5=4 (check)

15. 15. Red K6=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    15. Black R4=5 (check)

16. 16. Red K5=6

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    16. Black R5-2

17. 17. Red R7=1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    17. Black R5+5

18. 18. Red R1=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.

    18. Black K6=5

19. 19. Red R4+7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    19. Black R5=7

20. 20. 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.

    20. Black K5=6

21. 21. Red K6=5 (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.

    21. Black R7-1 (check)

22. 22. 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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    22. Black R7-1 (check, the only legal reply)

23. 23. 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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    23. Black R7+1 (check)

24. 24. 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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    24. Black R7+1 (check, the only legal reply)

25. 25. 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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    25. Black R7-8

26. 26. Red R5-2 (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.

    26. Black K6-1

27. 27. Red P6=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.

    27. Black K6-1

28. 28. Red R5=4 (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.

    28. Black R7=6

29. 29. Red P5=4 (captures the Chariot, checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    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.

• 1. Black E5-7
  • If Black plays C7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 3. Black A6+5
  • If Black plays R5-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black P6=7
  • If Black plays P1+1 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 P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-1. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C4-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P2+1
  • If Black plays P1+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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P1=2
  • 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 R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays +P=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black P2+1
  • 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black R5-2
  • 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black R5=4
  • 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black R4=5
  • 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 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=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R4=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black R5-2
  • 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 17. Black R5+5
  • 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 19. Black R5=7
  • 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 21. Black R7-1
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 22. Black R7-1
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 23. Black R7+1
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 24. Black R7+1
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 25. Black R7-8
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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