No. 153: Dying Against the Enemy Is Loyalty
"No. 153: Dying Against the Enemy Is Loyalty" 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 R5+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, a Advisor, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R5+7Why 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.
1. Black K4=51. Black K4=5 - 2. Red H9-7Why 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 for2. Black K5=42. Black K5=4 - 3. Red C9=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 for3. Black A4-53. Black A4-5 - 4. Red H5+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 for4. Black A5+44. Black A5+4 - 5. Red H6+7Why 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 for5. Black A4-55. Black A4-5 - 6. Red -H+6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for6. Red -H+6
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 K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H9-8. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 6 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 153: Dying Against the Enemy Is Loyalty"?
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 R5+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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 150: Marshal Lü Soars Like a Hawk
- No. 151: Enemy Horses Drink From the River
- No. 152: Fishing in Midstream
- No. 154: Repelling the Barbarians on All Sides
- No. 155: Feet Tread the Heavenly Cave
- No. 156: Three Offerings, Feet Severed
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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