Two Horses Share a Trough

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R1+5 (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.

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

2. 2. Red R1=2 (captures the Horse, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.
   • 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 H6-7 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red H2+3 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black R8-9 (captures the Chariot)

4. 4. Red H3+4 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black A4-5

5. 5. Red P7+1 (check)

   5. Black K4=5

6. 6. Red C9+7 (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.

   6. Black R4-8

7. 7. Red H4+2 (captures the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black C6-9

8. 8. Red H2-3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black H7+6

9. 9. Red P7=6 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Chariot.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   9. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)

10. 10. Red C9=4 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Cannon)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black A5-6 (captures the Cannon)

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.

• 2. Black H6-7
  • If Black plays H6-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R8-9
  • If Black plays C6=7 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
  • If Black plays C6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black A4-5
  • If Black plays H7+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black C6-9
  • 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
• 8. Black H7+6
  • 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
  • If Black plays C6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black A5-6
  • If Black plays H6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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