No. 115: Tilling at Shen, Awaiting the Call

"No. 115: Tilling at Shen, Awaiting the Call" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is P6+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, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P6+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)
1. Black K5=4
2. Red H7+8 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black K4=5
2. Black K4=5
3. Red H6+7 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K5=4
4. Red H7-5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black K4=5
4. Black K4=5
5. Red H5+7 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K5=4
6. Red R4+1 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
6. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K4+1
7. Red H8-7 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K4+1
8. Red R4=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why 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 Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
8. Black A5-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
8. Black A5-4
9. Red -H-5 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
9. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black K4-1
10. Red H5+4 (captures the Advisor, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. Black E7-5 (threatens mate next move)
10. Black E7-5
11. Red R3+8 (check)
11. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
11. Black A4+5
12. Red R3=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
12. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black K4-1
13. Red R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
13. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
13. Black K4+1
14. Red R5=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
14. Black K4-1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
14. Black K4-1
15. Red H7-5 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
15. Black K4+1
16. Red H5-7 (check)
16. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
16. Black K4-1
17. Red H7+8 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
17. Red H7+8

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 3 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 16: K4=5 17. H7-5+ K5=6 18. C5=4+ K6=5 19. H4-6+ K5-1 20. H5+4+ K5=4 21. C4=6# Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 17: 17. H4+3+ K5=6 18. H3-2+ K6=5 19. H2-4+ K5-1 20. H7+5# Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 6: A5-6 7. H7-6+ K4+1 8. H6+8# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 17 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 115: Tilling at Shen, Awaiting the Call"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).

How many moves does the solution take?

17 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move P6+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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 114: Walking the Path with Steadfast Sincerity Next puzzle: No. 116: Emperor Ming Tours the Palace →

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