No. 131: Guest Behind the Curtain
"No. 131: Guest Behind the Curtain" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 8 moves; the key first move is R4+1. 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, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R4+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 for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5=61. Black K5=6 - 2. Red H2+3Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- The Horse stands where it can be captured.
2. Black K6=52. Black K6=5 - 3. Red H3+2Why 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 for3. Black H9-73. Black H9-7 - 4. Red H1+3Why 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 K5=64. Black K5=6 - 5. Red H2-3Why 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 H7+95. Black H7+9 - 6. Red +H-5Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for6. Black K6=56. Black K6=5 - 7. Red H3+4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
7. Black K5=67. Black K5=6 - 8. Red R6+9Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for8. Red R6+9
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 3 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 7: H9-7 8. H5+3# Try it on the board
- Variation 2, from move 3: 3. H1+3+ K5=6 4. +H-5+ K6=5 5. H3+4+ K5=6 6. R6+9# Try it on the board
- Variation 3, from move 2: H9+7 3. H1+2# Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 8 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 131: Guest Behind the Curtain"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
8 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R4+1 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. 128: Geng Gong Prays at the Well
- No. 129: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light
- No. 130: Crow and Magpie Fight for the Nest
- No. 132: Five Hegemons Vie for Supremacy
- No. 133: Six States Vie for Supremacy
- No. 134: Dragon Leaps From the Vast Sea
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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