No. 184: Snakes and Dragons Mixed in the Sea
"No. 184: Snakes and Dragons Mixed in the Sea" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is R2+9. 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, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R2+9Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for1. Black E5-71. Black E5-7 - 2. Red R2=3Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Elephant.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black E9-72. Black E9-7 - 3. Red C1+3Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black E7+53. Black E7+5 - 4. Red H3+4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for4. Black E5-74. Black E5-7 - 5. Red H4-6Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for5. Black E7+55. Black E7+5 - 6. Red H6+8Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for6. Black R1-26. Black R1-2 - 7. Red H8-7Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for7. Red H8-7
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 E5-7
- If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 3. Black E7+5
- If Black plays E7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 4. Black E5-7
- If Black plays R7-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 5. Black E7+5
- If Black plays E7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 6. Black R1-2
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H8-7. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 184: Snakes and Dragons Mixed in the Sea"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
7 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R2+9 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. 181: Slaying the Dragon at the Sea Bottom
- No. 182: Throwing Meat to a Hungry Tiger
- No. 183: Fleeing Far to the Border
- No. 185: Bitter and Poisoned Road
- No. 186: Roosting Bird Startled by the Pellet
- No. 187: Mars Retreats From Its Lodging
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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