No. 146: Far Hunt in the Mountain Forests
"No. 146: Far Hunt in the Mountain Forests" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 9 moves; the key first move is R9=6. 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 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R9=6Why it works
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for1. Black H2+41. Black H2+4 - 2. Red R6+4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
- 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 A5+42. Black A5+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 +A-53. Black +A-5 - 4. Red P7=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 A5+44. Black A5+4 - 5. Red P6=5Why 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 for5. Black +A-55. Black +A-5 - 6. Red H4+6Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
6. Black K4+16. Black K4+1 - 7. Red C6-3Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Soldier.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for7. Black K4=57. Black K4=5 - 8. Red P5+1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for8. Black K5=68. Black K5=6 - 9. Red C6=4Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
- Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for9. Red C6=4
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 H2+4
- If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 9 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 146: Far Hunt in the Mountain Forests"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
9 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R9=6 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. 143: Avoid Harm on Sight
- No. 144: Pure House Carries On the Arms
- No. 145: Open the Gates and Await Battle
- No. 147: Fire Oxen Break the City
- No. 148: Restore Order From Chaos
- No. 149: Soaring Dragon, Rising Phoenix
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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