No. 179: Border Beacons Alarm the Enemy

No. 179: Border Beacons Alarm the Enemy楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲俥車象兵傌馬俥馬將炮

"No. 179: Border Beacons Alarm the Enemy" 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 -R=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 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red -R=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    1. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲俥車象兵傌馬俥馬將炮
    1. Black K6=5
  2. 2. Red R3=5 (captures the Horse, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Horse.
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    2. Black K5+1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲俥車象兵傌將馬炮
    2. Black K5+1
  3. 3. Red R4+2 (check)
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    3. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲車象兵傌俥馬將炮
    3. Black K5-1
  4. 4. Red R4+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 K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲車象兵傌將馬俥炮
    4. Black K5+1
  5. 5. Red C7-2 (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.
    5. Black K5=4 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲車象兵炮將馬俥
    5. Black K5=4
  6. 6. Red C7=9 (captures the Elephant, checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    6楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲車炮兵將馬俥
    6. Red C7=9

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥卒卒砲車炮兵將馬俥

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 179: Border Beacons Alarm the Enemy"?

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 -R=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. 178: Striving With One HeartNext puzzle: No. 180: Evening Birds Return to the Forest →

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