No. 103: Two Egrets Eye the Fish
"No. 103: Two Egrets Eye the Fish" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 4 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, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, 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 R1=4Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black A5+62. Black A5+6 - 3. Red -H+2Why 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 for3. Black K6+13. Black K6+1 - 4. Red H1-2Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for4. Red H1-2
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 2: K6=5 3. +H-3# Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 4 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 103: Two Egrets Eye the Fish"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
4 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. 100: Flying Steed Blazes the Path
- No. 101: Thunder Shakes a Hundred Miles
- No. 102: Waiting at the Golden Gate for Dawn
- No. 104: Going Straight and Getting One's Way
- No. 105: Fighting Like Raging Fire
- No. 106: Army Marches Beyond the Pass
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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