Exercises: which capture is mandatory?
In brief
6 positions, White to move. Find the move to play, then open the solution. Each solution was checked by the app's rules engine: it is the only legal move, or the only legal moves when the choice is free.
The dark squares show their official number. A move is written "from-to", a capture "from x to", with each landing square of the multiple capture.
Exercise 1
Two men or a king?
White to move. The white king can capture the black king, and the white man can make a multiple capture. What should be played?
View solution
The man's multiple capture, 29x22x13. It captures 2 pieces; capturing the king, 28x19, captures only one piece.
Why
- First priority: capture as many pieces as possible. It takes precedence over all the others.
- It doesn't matter that the black king is worth more than a man: pieces are counted first.
Exercise 2
Two multiple captures by the same king
White to move. The white king has two possible multiple captures, each of 2 pieces. Which one is mandatory?
View solution
11x20x27, which captures a king and a man. The other multiple capture, 11x18x25, also captures 2 pieces, but only men.
Why
- Same number of pieces, and the same king captures: the first two priorities don't decide between them.
- Third priority: capture the most kings.
Exercise 3
When the choice is free
White to move. The white man can capture to the left or to the right. Is either one required?
View solution
No. 22x13 and 22x15 are both allowed: same number of pieces, same capturing piece, no king captured.
Allowed captures, your choice: 22x13 or 22x15.
Why
- Capturing is still mandatory: you must play one of the two.
- When all four priorities are equal, the player chooses.
Exercise 4
The man that becomes a king in the middle of a multiple capture
White to move. The white man captures and lands on the last row. Can it keep capturing backward?
View solution
No. The move is 20x11x2: the man captures 2 pieces, stops on the last row and becomes a king. The continuation 20x11x2x9 is not allowed.
Why
- A man that reaches the last row during a capture stops there.
- It becomes a king at the end of the move, and can only capture backward on the next move.
Exercise 5
Must White capture?
White to move. A black king and a black man are both adjacent to the white man. Must White capture?
View solution
No, no capture is allowed: 22x13 and 22x31 are forbidden. White makes a simple move, 22-19 or 32-28.
No capture possible. Legal moves: 22-19 or 32-28.
Why
- A man can never capture a king.
- A man only captures forward: the black man behind it is out of reach.
Exercise 6
The man or the king?
White to move. The white man and the white king can each capture 2 pieces. Who must capture?
View solution
The king: 8x15x24. The man's multiple capture, 29x22x13, also takes 2 pieces, but it is ruled out.
Why
- Same number of pieces: the first priority does not decide.
- Second priority: with an equal number of pieces, you must capture with a king rather than a man.
- starting square
- landing squares
- captured piece
- king (crowned man)
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