No. 114: Walking the Path with Steadfast Sincerity

No. 114: Walking the Path with Steadfast Sincerity楚河 漢界砲車仕帥俥卒仕馬俥卒傌傌象砲炮士象士將車

"No. 114: Walking the Path with Steadfast Sincerity" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 9 moves; the key first move is H2+3. 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. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H2+3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    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.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    1. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界砲車仕帥俥卒仕馬俥卒傌象砲炮士傌象士將車
    1. Black K5=6
  2. 2. Red R1=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black C9=6 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界砲車仕帥俥卒仕馬俥卒傌象砲炮士傌象士將車
    2. Black C9=6
  3. 3. Red R4+7 (captures the Cannon, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
    • 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.
    3. Black A5+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬俥卒傌象士炮傌象士將車
    3. Black A5+6
  4. 4. Red H8+6 (check, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    4. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬俥卒象士炮傌士傌象將車
    4. Black A4+5
  5. 5. Red R7+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.
    5. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬卒象士炮傌士將傌俥車
    5. Black K6+1
  6. 6. Red H6-7 (check, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    6. Black A5-4 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬傌卒象士炮將傌俥士車
    6. Black A5-4
  7. 7. Red R7-1 (check)
    7. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬傌卒象士炮俥士將傌車
    7. Black A4+5
  8. 8. Red R7=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    8. Black K6=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬傌卒象士炮將傌車
    8. Black K6=5
  9. 9. Red H7+8 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    9楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬卒象士炮傌將傌車
    9. Red H7+8

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒仕馬卒象士炮傌將傌車

Red wins after 9 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 114: Walking the Path with Steadfast Sincerity"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H2+3 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. 113: Might Awes the Four SeasNext puzzle: No. 115: Tilling at Shen, Awaiting the Call →

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