No. 108: Scrambling for Boats at the Crossing
"No. 108: Scrambling for Boats at the Crossing" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is P4+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, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red P4+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 for- Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5=61. Black K5=6 - 2. Red P3=4Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
2. Black K6=52. Black K6=5 - 3. Red P4+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 for- Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black K5=63. Black K5=6 - 4. Red R6=44. Black K6=5
4. Black K6=5 - 5. Red H6+4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for5. Black K5=65. Black K5=6 - 6. Red H4-26. Black K6=5
6. Black K6=5 - 7. Red H2+3Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for7. Red H2+3
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 5 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 6: 6. H4+2+ K6=5 7. R4+7# Try it on the board
- Variation 2, from move 2: K6+1 3. R6=4+ A5+6 4. R4+5# Try it on the board
- Variation 3, from move 2: 2. R6=4+ K6=5 3. H6+4+ K5=6 4. P3+1+ K6+1 5. H4+2+ Try it on the board
- Variation 4, from move 4: E5-7 5. H4+2# Try it on the board
- Variation 5, from move 1: 1. P4=5+ A4+5 2. H6+4+ K5=6 3. C9+7+ Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 108: Scrambling for Boats at the Crossing"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
7 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move P4+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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 105: Fighting Like Raging Fire
- No. 106: Army Marches Beyond the Pass
- No. 107: Phoenix Rises from Cinnabar Mountain
- No. 109: Unable to Stop
- No. 110: Predictions Often Prove Right
- No. 111: War Sprung from Friendship
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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