No. 119: Strength to Match Ten Thousand
"No. 119: Strength to Match Ten Thousand" 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 R2=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, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R2=5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
- 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 A6-51. Black A6-5 - 2. Red P6=5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for2. Black K5=42. Black K5=4 - 3. Red H3+4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black E5-73. Black E5-7 - 4. Red H4-6Why 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 for4. Black P3=44. Black P3=4 - 5. Red H6+8Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for5. Black P4+15. Black P4+1 - 6. Red H8-7Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
6. Black H1-36. Black H1-3 - 7. Red R9+9Why 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 for7. Black H3-27. Black H3-2 - 8. Red R9=8Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for8. Red R9=8
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.
- 3. Black E5-7
- If Black plays R7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 5. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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. 119: Strength to Match Ten Thousand"?
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 R2=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. 116: Emperor Ming Tours the Palace
- No. 117: Bend the Chimney, Move the Firewood
- No. 118: Many Advisors, None Can Reach
- No. 120: Treasures Smashed in the Casket
- No. 121: Hunting at the Willow Camp
- No. 122: Rich Land, Strong Army
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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