No. 161: Avoid Harm, Preserve Oneself
"No. 161: Avoid Harm, Preserve Oneself" 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 C9=6. 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 Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red C9=6Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for1. Black A4-51. Black A4-5 - 2. Red R9=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 for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black K4+12. Black K4+1 - 3. Red P5+1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Elephant.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for3. Black K4-13. Black K4-1 - 4. Red P5=6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for4. Red P5=6
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 1: K4=5 2. P5+1+ K5=6 3. C6=4# 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. 161: Avoid Harm, Preserve Oneself"?
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 C9=6 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. 158: Fighting Tigers Bare-Handed, Fording Rivers
- No. 159: Unmatched Before and After
- No. 160: Leaning on the Gate Awaiting a Son
- No. 162: Zhu Yun Breaks the Railing
- No. 163: Choosing Generals, Drilling Troops
- No. 164: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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