No. 199: Eagle Seizes the Hare

No. 199: Eagle Seizes the Hare楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲傌炮象士象兵士俥將

"No. 199: Eagle Seizes the Hare" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is R2=4. 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, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R2=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    1. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲傌炮象士象兵士俥將
    1. Black K6=5
  2. 2. Red P6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black A6-5 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲傌炮象象士俥將
    2. Black A6-5
  3. 3. Red R4=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    3. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲傌炮象象俥將
    3. Black K5=6
  4. 4. Red R5+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.
    4. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲傌炮象象將俥
    4. Black K6+1
  5. 5. Red H5+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.
    5. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲炮傌象將象俥
    5. Black K6+1
  6. 6. Red R5=4 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    6楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲炮傌象將象俥
    6. Red R5=4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界車馬帥卒砲炮傌象將象俥

Red wins after 6 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 199: Eagle Seizes the Hare"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2=4 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: No. 198: Startled Bird Hides in the BranchesNext puzzle: No. 200: Fallen Blossoms on Flowing Water →

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