Eight Tigers March West

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -C=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black R6-1 (captures the Cannon)

2. 2. Red C1=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 for

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

   2. Black H5-6 (captures the Cannon)

3. 3. Red P4+1 (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.
   • 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.

   3. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier)

4. 4. Red P3+1 (check)

   4. Black K6-1

5. 5. Red P3=4 (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.
   • 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.

   5. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier)

6. 6. Red P6=5 (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.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black R5+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R3+8 (check)

   7. Black K6-1

8. 8. Red R1+9 (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.

   8. Black E5-7 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

9. 9. Red R3=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black R6=5 (check, threatens mate next move)

10. 10. Red R5-6 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices 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.

    10. Black H6+5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

11. 11. Red R1=3 (captures the Elephant, 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 Elephant.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    11. Black K6+1

12. 12. Red H9-7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.

    12. Black H5+7 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

13. 13. Red R3-8 (captures the Horse, sacrifices the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Horse.

    What to watch out for

    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black C2=7 (captures the Chariot)

14. 14. Red H7-6 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

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

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 R6-1
  • If Black plays H5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
• 2. Black H5-6
  • If Black plays R6-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R5+1
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+7. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R6=5
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
• 10. Black H6+5
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black H5+7
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black C2=7
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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