Seven States Recruit the Worthy

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R3=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 +R=5

2. 2. Red R5+1 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • 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.

   2. Black +H-5

3. 3. Red C5+4 (captures the Horse)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black R4=2

4. 4. Red C5=6 (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 H4+5

5. 5. Red R5+3 (captures the Horse, check)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   5. Black K5=4

6. 6. Red P9=8

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black -P=4 (threatens mate next move)

7. 7. Red R5-5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black P4+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

8. 8. Red R5=6 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black +P=4 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)

9. 9. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

   What to watch out for

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

   9. Black R2+1 (captures the Soldier)

10. 10. Red C3=8 (captures the Chariot)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black P3=4 (captures the Cannon)

11. 11. Red C8-7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black P8+1

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 +R=5
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -H+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black +H-5
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays -H+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black R4=2
  • 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black H4+5
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+5. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black -P=4
  • 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black P4+1
  • 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black +P=4
  • 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R2+1
  • 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black P3=4
  • 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black P8+1
  • 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 P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

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