Five Strongmen Carve the Road

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R3+2 (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 A5-6 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. Red C3=5 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black R9=5 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3-7 (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.

   3. Black H9-8 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)

4. 4. Red P6+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.

   4. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

5. 5. Red R3=6 (captures the Soldier, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black R5=4 (threatens mate next move)

6. 6. Red R6+6 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 Chariot.
   • 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.

   6. Black H2-4 (captures the Chariot)

7. 7. Red R8+3 (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 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black +P=5 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

8. 8. Red C5-5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Cannon, 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

   • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
   • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black P5+1 (captures the Cannon, check, threatens mate next move)

9. 9. Red K6+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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black K4=5

10. 10. Red R8=7 (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.

    10. Black K5+1

11. 11. Red R7-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black K5-1

12. 12. Red R7=6 (captures the Horse)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Horse.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black +A-5

13. 13. Red R6=8

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    13. Black H8+6

14. 14. Red R8-1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    14. Black E5-3

15. 15. Red R8+2

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    15. Black A5-4

16. 16. Red R8=7 (captures the Elephant)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

    What to watch out for

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

    16. Black H6+4

17. 17. Red R7-5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 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.

• 2. Black R9=5
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +A-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-1. Try it on the board
• 5. Black R5=4
  • If Black plays H2-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H2+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+7. Try it on the board
• 7. Black +P=5
  • If Black plays +P=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -P=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
• 9. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=7. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black +A-5
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black H8+6
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black E5-3
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black A5-4
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black H6+4
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H6-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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