No. 156: Three Offerings, Feet Severed
"No. 156: Three Offerings, Feet Severed" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is R2+9. 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, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R2+9Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for1. Black E9-71. Black E9-7 - 2. Red R2=3Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Elephant.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black E5-72. Black E5-7 - 3. Red R7+1Why 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 for3. Black K4+13. Black K4+1 - 4. Red C3=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.
- 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.
4. Black H5-44. Black H5-4 - 5. Red R7=6Why 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 for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
5. Black A5-45. Black A5-4 - 6. Red H7+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 for6. Black -C-86. Black -C-8 - 7. Red P8=7Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for7. Red P8=7
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.
- 1. Black E9-7
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- 2. Black E5-7
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 156: Three Offerings, Feet Severed"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
7 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R2+9 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. 153: Dying Against the Enemy Is Loyalty
- No. 154: Repelling the Barbarians on All Sides
- No. 155: Feet Tread the Heavenly Cave
- No. 157: Calling a Deer a Horse
- No. 158: Fighting Tigers Bare-Handed, Fording Rivers
- No. 159: Unmatched Before and After
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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