No. 172: Spreading the Net on the Move

No. 172: Spreading the Net on the Move楚河 漢界卒帥仕炮砲馬卒卒兵砲士傌士將炮

"No. 172: Spreading the Net on the Move" 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 H1-3. 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, a Advisor, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H1-3 (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 漢界卒帥仕炮砲馬卒卒兵砲傌士士將炮
    1. Black K6=5
  2. 2. Red H3+2 (check, threatens mate next move, 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.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black C6-2 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界卒帥仕炮砲馬卒卒兵士士將砲傌炮
    2. Black C6-2
  3. 3. Red H2-4 (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.
    3. Black C6+3 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界卒帥仕炮砲馬卒卒砲士傌士將炮
    3. Black C6+3
  4. 4. Red H4+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.
    4. Black C6-3 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界卒帥仕炮砲馬卒卒士士將砲傌炮
    4. Black C6-3
  5. 5. Red H2-4 (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.
    5. Black C6+9 (captures the Advisor, threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界卒帥砲炮砲馬卒卒士傌士將炮
    5. Black C6+9
  6. 6. Red H4+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.
    6. Black C6-9 (check, the General has no escape square)
    6楚河 漢界卒帥炮砲馬卒卒士士將砲傌炮
    6. Black C6-9
  7. 7. Red C3=7 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
    7. Black P4+1 (check)
    7楚河 漢界炮卒帥砲馬卒士士將砲傌炮
    7. Black P4+1
  8. 8. Red K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black C9=3 (captures the Cannon)
    8楚河 漢界砲卒馬帥卒士士將砲傌炮
    8. Black C9=3
  9. 9. Red H2-4 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    9楚河 漢界砲卒馬帥卒士傌士將砲炮
    9. Red H2-4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲卒馬帥卒士傌士將砲炮

Red wins after 9 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 172: Spreading the Net on the Move"?

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 H1-3 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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 171: Gains and Losses Without ConstancyNext puzzle: No. 173: When the Water Dries, the Fish Appear →

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