No. 113: Might Awes the Four Seas
"No. 113: Might Awes the Four Seas" 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 P3=4. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.
Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →
Free, in the browser, no download.
Pieces on the board
Red has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red P3=4Why 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 for1. Black K6=51. Black K6=5 - 2. Red C5+4Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for- Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black E7-52. Black E7-5 - 3. Red P4=5Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for3. Black A4-53. Black A4-5 - 4. Red R8=5Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for4. Black K5=44. Black K5=4 - 5. Red R5+1Why 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 for5. Black K4+15. Black K4+1 - 6. Red R5=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.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
6. Black K4-16. Black K4-1 - 7. Red H3+4Why 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 for7. Black K4+17. Black K4+1 - 8. Red C3+6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for8. Red C3+6
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 2: K5=4 3. R8=6+ K4+1 4. C5=6# Try it on the board
- Variation 2, from move 2: A5+6 3. P4=5+ K5=6 4. H3+2# 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. 113: Might Awes the Four Seas"?
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 P3=4 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. 110: Predictions Often Prove Right
- No. 111: War Sprung from Friendship
- No. 112: Flying Whale Swallows the Bait
- No. 114: Walking the Path with Steadfast Sincerity
- No. 115: Tilling at Shen, Awaiting the Call
- No. 116: Emperor Ming Tours the Palace
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文