No. 159: Unmatched Before and After

No. 159: Unmatched Before and After楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相俥炮砲車炮傌象士士將

"No. 159: Unmatched Before and After" 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 R4+7. 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 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R4+7 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    1. Black K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相炮砲車炮傌象士士將
    1. Black K5=6
  2. 2. Red H3+2 (check)
    2. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相炮砲車炮象士傌士將
    2. Black K6=5
  3. 3. Red H2-4 (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.
    3. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相炮砲車炮象傌士士將
    3. Black K5=6
  4. 4. Red C1=4 (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.
    4. Black C5=6
    4楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相炮砲車炮象傌士士將
    4. Black C5=6
  5. 5. Red C5=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 for
    • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    5. Black -R=6 (captures the Cannon)
    5楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相炮砲車象傌士士將
    5. Black -R=6
  6. 6. Red C4+2 (captures the Chariot, checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    6楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相砲炮象傌士士將
    6. Red C4+2

Variations and alternative defences

What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥仕馬車仕相砲炮象傌士士將

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 159: Unmatched Before and After"?

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 R4+7 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. 158: Fighting Tigers Bare-Handed, Fording RiversNext puzzle: No. 160: Leaning on the Gate Awaiting a Son →

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