No. 129: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light
"No. 129: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is R8=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 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R8=6Why it works
- 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.
1. Black H3-41. Black H3-4 - 2. Red +C+5Why 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.
2. Black H4-22. Black H4-2 - 3. Red R5=8Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for3. Black K4=53. Black K4=5 - 4. Red C8+9Why 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 for4. Black R4-84. Black R4-8 - 5. Red H4-6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for5. Red H4-6
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 H3-4
- If Black plays R4-7 instead: Red mates immediately with +C+5. Try it on the board
- 3. Black K4=5
- If Black plays +A-5 instead: Red mates immediately with C8+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -A+5 instead: Red mates immediately with C8+9. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 5 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 129: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
5 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R8=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. 126: Falling Leaves Return in Autumn
- No. 127: Visiting Dai on a Snowy Night
- No. 128: Geng Gong Prays at the Well
- No. 130: Crow and Magpie Fight for the Nest
- No. 131: Guest Behind the Curtain
- No. 132: Five Hegemons Vie for Supremacy
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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