No. 106: Army Marches Beyond the Pass

No. 106: Army Marches Beyond the Pass楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮俥相傌馬兵象俥士象士將車

"No. 106: Army Marches Beyond the Pass" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 11 moves; the key first move is R6=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, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R6=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out for
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    1. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮俥相傌馬兵象俥象士將車
    1. Black K5=6
  2. 2. Red R5+1 (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.
    2. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮俥相傌馬兵象將象士俥車
    2. Black K6+1
  3. 3. Red R7+4 (check)
    3. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮相傌馬兵象將俥象士俥車
    3. Black K6+1
  4. 4. Red P3=4 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    4. Black H8-6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮相傌馬象將俥象士俥車
    4. Black H8-6
  5. 5. Red R7=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    5. Black K6-1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮相傌馬象將象士俥車
    5. Black K6-1
  6. 6. 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.
    6. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮相馬傌象將象士俥車
    6. Black K6+1
  7. 7. Red R5=4 (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.
    7. Black R9=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮相馬傌象將象士車
    7. Black R9=6
  8. 8. Red H3+2 (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.
    8. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界砲帥炮車馬炮相馬象將傌象士車
    8. Black K6-1
  9. 9. Red C1+8 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
    9. Black H6-7 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界砲帥車馬炮相象將馬傌炮象士車
    9. Black H6-7
  10. 10. Red H2-3 (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.
    10. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    10楚河 漢界砲帥車馬炮相傌象將馬炮象士車
    10. Black K6+1
  11. 11. Red H3-5 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    11楚河 漢界砲帥車馬炮相傌象將馬炮象士車
    11. Red H3-5

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲帥車馬炮相傌象將馬炮象士車

Red wins after 11 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 106: Army Marches Beyond the Pass"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R6=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.

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