No. 169: Lost at Yinling
"No. 169: Lost at Yinling" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 4 moves; the key first move is H3+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, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red H3+4Why 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 for1. Black K5=41. Black K5=4 - 2. Red P6+1Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- 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 R4-52. Black R4-5 - 3. Red R9=6Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black H2-43. Black H2-4 - 4. Red C3+3Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for4. Red C3+3
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 3: K4-1 4. R5=6+ K4-1 5. C3+5# Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 4 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 169: Lost at Yinling"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
4 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move H3+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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 166: Toppling the Enemy State at Once
- No. 167: Victory and Conquered Land
- No. 168: Swift as Lightning
- No. 170: Bound and Surrendering
- No. 171: Gains and Losses Without Constancy
- No. 172: Spreading the Net on the Move
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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