Winning by One Spare Tempo

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red H2+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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black K4+1

2. 2. Red H3-5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Horse stands where it can be captured.

   2. Black K4-1

3. 3. Red H5-3 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black K4-1

4. 4. Red H3-5 (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 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
   • The Horse stands where it can be captured.

   4. Black K4=5

5. 5. Red H5+7 (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.

   5. Black R5-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

6. 6. Red K4-1 (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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black R5+1 (check)

7. 7. Red K4+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.

   7. Black R5-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

8. 8. Red K4-1 (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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black P4=5 (check, the only legal reply)

9. 9. Red K4-1 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

10. 10. Red K4+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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)

11. 11. Red K4+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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black R5-1 (check, the only legal reply)

12. 12. Red K4-1 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)

13. 13. Red K4+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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black R5=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

14. 14. Red K4-1 (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 forNo real drawback in this position.

    14. Black P5=4

15. 15. Red R4=5 (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 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
• 2. Black K4-1
  • 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
• 3. 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
• 4. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
• 5. Black R5-1
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R5+1
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R5-1
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P4=5
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P5+1
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 10. Black R5+1
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 11. Black R5-1
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 12. Black R5+1
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. 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=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 13. Black R5=6
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
• 14. Black P5=4
  • If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with K4-1. Try it on the board

Final position

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