No. 158: Fighting Tigers Bare-Handed, Fording Rivers
"No. 158: Fighting Tigers Bare-Handed, Fording Rivers" 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 C6+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 Advisors, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red C6+5Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5=41. Black K5=4 - 2. Red H9+8Why 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 for2. Black E5-32. Black E5-3 - 3. Red H8-7Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for3. Black K4+13. Black K4+1 - 4. Red +H-9Why 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+14. Black K4+1 - 5. Red H9+8Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for5. Red H9+8
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 1: E5-3 2. H9+7# 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. 158: Fighting Tigers Bare-Handed, Fording Rivers"?
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 C6+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. 155: Feet Tread the Heavenly Cave
- No. 156: Three Offerings, Feet Severed
- No. 157: Calling a Deer a Horse
- No. 159: Unmatched Before and After
- No. 160: Leaning on the Gate Awaiting a Son
- No. 161: Avoid Harm, Preserve Oneself
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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