No. 4: Lone Horse Captures Lone Advisor

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Horse. Black has a General, a Advisor.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red H2+3 (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.

   1. Black K5=4

2. 2. Red K4=5

   2. Black A4+5

3. 3. Red H3-4

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black A5-6

4. 4. Red H4+2

   4. Black K4-1

5. 5. Red H2+4 (check)

   5. Black A6+5

6. 6. Red H4-5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black A5+6

7. 7. Red H5+7 (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.

   7. Black K4+1

8. 8. Red K5+1

   8. Black K4+1

9. 9. Red H7-8

   9. Black A6-5

10. 10. Red H8+6

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    10. Black A5-6

11. 11. Red H6+8 (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.

    11. Black A6+5

12. 12. Red H8+7 (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.

    12. Black K4-1

13. 13. Red H7-5 (captures the Advisor)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    13. Black K4-1

14. 14. Red H5-3 (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.

    14. Black K4+1

15. 15. Red H3+4 (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.

    15. Black K4+1

16. 16. Red K5-1 (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.

• 2. Black A4+5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black A5-6
  • If Black plays K4-1 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
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black A6+5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black A5+6
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black A6-5
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black A5-6
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with K5+1. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Lone Horse Class, Game 10
  10 moves
• Lone Horse Class, Game 09
  10 moves
• No. 8: Lone Horse vs Lone Elephant (1)
  8 moves
• Lone Horse Class, Game 03
  13 moves
• No. 2: Lone Horse Captures Lone Advisor
  10 moves
• No. 1: Lone Horse vs Lone Advisor (1)
  6 moves

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