Nothing Can Be Done

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R4+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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black K6=5

2. 2. Red H4+3 (check)

   2. Black K5+1

3. 3. Red R4+3 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black K5-1

4. 4. Red R4+1 (check)

   4. Black K5+1

5. 5. Red H3-4 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   5. Black K5=4

6. 6. Red R4-2 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black K4-1

7. 7. Red H4-6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black K4=5

8. 8. Red H6+5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Horse stands where it can be captured.

   8. Black K5+1

9. 9. Red R4+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.

   9. Black K5-1

10. 10. Red H5+7 (check)

    10. Black K5=4

11. 11. Red R4+1 (check)

    11. Black K4+1

12. 12. Red H7+9

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    12. Black K4=5

13. 13. Red R4-1 (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.

    13. Black K5-1

14. 14. Red H9+7 (check)

    14. Black K5-1

15. 15. Red R4+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 K6=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+5. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K5+1
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays R5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board

Final position

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