Single Whip Saves the Lord

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Horses, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red +P=8 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black P3+1 (check, the only legal reply)

2. 2. Red K6=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black C8-3 (captures the Horse)

3. 3. Red H2-4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black C8+3

4. 4. Red H4+2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black C8-4 (captures the Soldier)

5. 5. Red H2-4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black C8+4

6. 6. Red H4+2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black C8-5 (captures the Soldier)

7. 7. Red H2-4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black C8=1 (threatens mate next move)

8. 8. Red P4+1 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • The Soldier stands where it can be captured.

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

9. 9. Red H4+5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   9. Black C1=5

10. 10. Red P9=8

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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

11. 11. Red +P=7 (check)

    11. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)

12. 12. Red P8=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.

    12. Black K4=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.

• 1. Black P3+1
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black C8-3
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black C8+3
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black C8-4
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black C8+4
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black C8-5
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black C8=1
  • 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. 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=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K5=4
  • 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 C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Two Horses Share a Trough
  10 moves
• Two Chariots Cast Into the Well
  11 moves
• Two Lords Storm the City
  16 moves
• Lone Cannon Sorties Six Times
  18 moves
• A Thousand Miles Alone
  17 moves
• Ambush on Ten Sides
  24 moves

More from Hundred Game Manual →

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