A. Other Mating Techniques: Standard Positions 2

"A. Other Mating Techniques: Standard Positions 2" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Other mating patterns. Red moves first and wins in 15 moves; the key first move is P4+1. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

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Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. Red P4+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 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black A4+5
1. Black A4+5
2. Red P6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black A6+5 (captures the Soldier)
2. Black A6+5
3. Red R4=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black A5-6
3. Black A5-6
4. Red R2+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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R2=4 (check)
4. Black R2=4
5. Red K6+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 for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P3=4 (check, the only legal reply)
5. Black P3=4
6. Red K6-1 (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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black K5=4
6. Black K5=4
7. Red R2-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P4+1 (check)
7. Black P4+1
8. Red A5+6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black H3+5
8. Black H3+5
9. Red R2=6 (check)
9. Black K4=5
9. Black K4=5
10. Red R6+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black E5+7
10. Black E5+7
11. Red R6=5 (captures the Horse, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black K5=4
11. Black K5=4
12. Red R5=6 (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.
12. Black K4=5
12. Black K4=5
13. Red R6+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black E7-9
13. Black E7-9
14. Red A6-5 (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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black E9+7
14. Black E9+7
15. Red R6+1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Red R6+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 A4+5
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
2. Black A6+5
- If Black plays H3-5 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
3. Black A5-6
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R2=4
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
5. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-5 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
6. Black K5=4
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
7. Black P4+1
- If Black plays H3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black H3+5
- If Black plays H3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black K4=5
- If Black plays H5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black E5+7
- If Black plays H5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+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
11. Black K5=4
- If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+5 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
13. Black E7-9
- If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+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
14. Black E9+7
- If Black plays E9-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 15 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "A. Other Mating Techniques: Standard Positions 2"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Other mating patterns.

How many moves does the solution take?

15 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move P4+1 starts the combination. Everything that follows depends on it.

Can I play this position myself?

Yes. Open it on ChessZing, where the board checks your moves and shows the solution if you get stuck.

← Previous puzzle: A. Other Mating Techniques: Standard Positions 3 Next puzzle: Other Mating Techniques: Standard Positions 1 →

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