No. 124: Wang Jian Falls From the Chariot

No. 124: Wang Jian Falls From the Chariot楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士俥象俥傌將士象

"No. 124: Wang Jian Falls From the Chariot" 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 R7=8. 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, 2 Horses, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R7=8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    1. Black R2=1
    1楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士俥象俥傌將士象
    1. Black R2=1
  2. 2. Red R3=4 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black A6+5
    2楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士俥象俥士傌將象
    2. Black A6+5
  3. 3. Red H3-5 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.
    3. Black R5+1 (check)
    3楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    3. Black R5+1
  4. 4. Red K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black R5-1 (check)
    4楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    4. Black R5-1
  5. 5. Red K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    5. Black R5-1 (check)
    5楚河 漢界卒帥車傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    5. Black R5-1
  6. 6. Red K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black R5+1 (check)
    6楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    6. Black R5+1
  7. 7. Red K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black R5=6
    7楚河 漢界車卒帥傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    7. Black R5=6
  8. 8. Red P3=4 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
    8. Black R6-1 (check, the only legal reply)
    8楚河 漢界卒帥車傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    8. Black R6-1
  9. 9. Red K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black R6+1 (check)
    9楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    9. Black R6+1
  10. 10. Red K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black R6-1 (check, the only legal reply)
    10楚河 漢界卒帥車傌卒砲兵卒車士傌俥象俥士將象
    10. Black R6-1
  11. 11. Red K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black C5-2 (captures the Horse)
    11楚河 漢界帥卒車傌卒兵卒車士砲俥象俥士將象
    11. Black C5-2
  12. 12. Red R8=5 (captures the Advisor, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black R6+1 (check)
    12楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒兵卒車士砲俥象俥將象
    12. Black R6+1
  13. 13. Red K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black R6+1 (check, the only legal reply)
    13楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒兵卒車士砲俥象俥將象
    13. Black R6+1
  14. 14. Red K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black R6-1 (check)
    14楚河 漢界帥車卒傌卒兵卒車士砲俥象俥將象
    14. Black R6-1
  15. 15. Red K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black R6-1 (check, the only legal reply)
    15楚河 漢界卒帥車傌卒兵卒車士砲俥象俥將象
    15. Black R6-1
  16. 16. Red K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black R6-3 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    16楚河 漢界帥卒傌卒車卒車士砲俥象俥將象
    16. Black R6-3
  17. 17. Red R4-2 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black C5=6
    17楚河 漢界帥卒傌卒俥卒車士砲象俥將象
    17. Black C5=6
  18. 18. Red R4+2 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    18. Black P7=6
    18楚河 漢界帥卒傌卒卒車士俥象俥將象
    18. Black P7=6
  19. 19. Red R4+2 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    19楚河 漢界帥卒傌卒卒車士象俥將俥象
    19. Red R4+2

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥卒傌卒卒車士象俥將俥象

Red wins after 19 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 124: Wang Jian Falls From the Chariot"?

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 R7=8 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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 123: Cut a Road Through the MountainNext puzzle: No. 125: Five Tigers Descend to Sichuan →

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