No. 182: Throwing Meat to a Hungry Tiger

"No. 182: Throwing Meat to a Hungry Tiger" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is C1+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, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C1+4 (check)
1. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black A6+5
2. Red R3+2 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black A5-6
3. Red H3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R7-7 (captures the Chariot)
3. Black R7-7
4. Red H1+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.
4. Black K5+1
4. Black K5+1
5. Red C1-1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Red C1-1

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 6 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 3: R7=8 4. R3-1+ A6+5 5. H1+2+ A5-6 6. H2-4+ A6+5 7. R3+1+ A5-6 8. H4-6+ K5+1 9. R3-1# Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 3: 3. H3+5 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 1: 1. C1=5+ A4+5 2. H3+5 E3+5 3. R3-5 Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 2: R7-5 3. H5+7# Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 1: C5=4 2. H3+5+ A4+5 3. H5+3+ K5=4 4. R3-5 Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 1: C5=6 2. H3+5+ A6+5 3. H5+7+ K5=6 4. C5=4+ C6=4 5. R3=4# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 5 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 182: Throwing Meat to a Hungry Tiger"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C1+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. 181: Slaying the Dragon at the Sea Bottom Next puzzle: No. 183: Fleeing Far to the Border →

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