No. 147: Fire Oxen Break the City
"No. 147: Fire Oxen Break the City" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 19 moves; the key first move is R8=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, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R8=5Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for- The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
1. Black A4+51. Black A4+5 - 2. Red +H+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 R5=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 Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black A5+43. Black A5+4 - 4. Red C8=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 for4. Black A4-54. Black A4-5 - 5. Red C6-4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Soldier.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for5. Black A5+45. Black A5+4 - 6. Red H6-8Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for6. Black A4-56. Black A4-5 - 7. Red H8+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 for7. Black A5+47. Black A5+4 - 8. Red H6+8Why 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 for8. Black A4-58. Black A4-5 - 9. Red H8+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 for9. Black A5+49. Black A5+4 - 10. Red H6+7Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Soldier.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for10. Black A4-510. Black A4-5 - 11. Red -H-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 for11. Black A5+411. Black A5+4 - 12. Red H6+5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Soldier.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for12. Black A4-512. Black A4-5 - 13. Red H5-6Why 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 for13. Black A5+413. Black A5+4 - 14. Red H6+4Why 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 for14. Black A4-514. Black A4-5 - 15. Red H4+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 for15. Black A5+415. Black A5+4 - 16. Red H6+4Why 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 for16. Black A4-516. Black A4-5 - 17. Red H7-6Why 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 for17. Black A5+417. Black A5+4 - 18. Red H6-8Why 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 for18. Black A4-518. Black A4-5 - 19. Red H8+7Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for19. Red H8+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 A4+5
- If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6+5 instead: Red mates immediately with C8+4. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 19 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 147: Fire Oxen Break the City"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
19 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R8=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. 144: Pure House Carries On the Arms
- No. 145: Open the Gates and Await Battle
- No. 146: Far Hunt in the Mountain Forests
- No. 148: Restore Order From Chaos
- No. 149: Soaring Dragon, Rising Phoenix
- No. 150: Marshal Lü Soars Like a Hawk
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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