Seven Sages Pass the Gate

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red -R=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black A5+4 (captures the Chariot)

2. 2. Red R8+1 (check, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   2. Black E5-3

3. 3. Red R8=7 (captures the Elephant, check, 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 Elephant.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black K4+1

4. 4. Red H9+8 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   4. Black K4=5

5. 5. Red R7=5 (check)

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.

   5. Black K5=6

6. 6. Red P3+1 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black K6+1

7. 7. Red H8-6 (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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black A4-5

8. 8. Red R5-1 (captures the Advisor, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

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

   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 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black A6+5 (captures the Chariot)

9. 9. Red C9=5 (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 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black A5+4

10. 10. Red -C+2 (checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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 A5+4
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+1. Try it on the board
• 2. Black E5-3
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H9+8. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H8+7. Try it on the board
• 7. Black A4-5
  • If Black plays C8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
• 8. Black A6+5
  • If Black plays C8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
• 9. Black A5+4
  • If Black plays C8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with -C=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C8=6 instead: Red mates immediately with -C=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with -C=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with -C=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3=1 instead: Red mates immediately with -C=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with -C=4. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Thrice Enraging Zhou Yu
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• Three Falls of the Bronze Banner
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• Seven Stars Gather
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• Seven States Recruit the Worthy
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• Five Sons Take First Place
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• Five Soldiers Capture the King
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