No. 174: Thrice Enraging Zhou Yu
"No. 174: Thrice Enraging Zhou Yu" 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+5. 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, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red C1+5Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for1. Black -C-21. Black -C-2 - 2. Red P6+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 for- Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black A5-42. Black A5-4 - 3. Red R6+4Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black K5=43. Black K5=4 - 4. Red R3=6Why 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 for4. Black K4=54. Black K4=5 - 5. Red C2=5Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for5. Red C2=5
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 3: K5+1 4. R3+2# Try it on the board
- Variation 2, from move 1: E5-7 2. P6=5# 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. 174: Thrice Enraging Zhou Yu"?
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+5 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. 171: Gains and Losses Without Constancy
- No. 172: Spreading the Net on the Move
- No. 173: When the Water Dries, the Fish Appear
- No. 175: Circling on All Four Sides
- No. 176: Seeing Off and Welcoming
- No. 177: Leaning on Each Other's Strength
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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