No. 188: Now Sinking, Now Floating
"No. 188: Now Sinking, Now Floating" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 9 moves; the key first move is R2+3. 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 Chariots, 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. Red R2+3Why it works
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for1. Black A5-61. Black A5-6 - 2. Red R2-1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for2. Black A6+52. Black A6+5 - 3. Red R3+3Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black A5-63. Black A5-6 - 4. Red R2=5Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black A4+54. Black A4+5 - 5. Red R3-1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for5. Black E5-75. Black E5-7 - 6. Red R3=5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for6. Black K5=46. Black K5=4 - 7. Red R5+1Why 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 for7. Black K4+17. Black K4+1 - 8. Red P7+1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for8. Black K4+18. Black K4+1 - 9. Red R5=6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for9. Red R5=6
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 A5-6
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+3. Try it on the board
- 4. Black A4+5
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-1. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 9 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 188: Now Sinking, Now Floating"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
9 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R2+3 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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 185: Bitter and Poisoned Road
- No. 186: Roosting Bird Startled by the Pellet
- No. 187: Mars Retreats From Its Lodging
- No. 189: Shut the Gate and Sweep the Tracks
- No. 191: Comforting the Officers and Men
- No. 192: Hearts Bound Across Two Places
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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