No. 100: Flying Steed Blazes the Path

No. 100: Flying Steed Blazes the Path楚河 漢界帥卒卒俥車炮兵炮兵砲士將傌車

"No. 100: Flying Steed Blazes the Path" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is R1=4. 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, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. 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.
    1. Black C8=6 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥卒卒俥車炮兵炮兵砲士將傌車
    1. Black C8=6
  2. 2. Red R4+3 (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.
    2. Black A5+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界帥卒卒車炮兵炮兵士將傌車
    2. Black A5+6
  3. 3. Red C8=4 (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.
    3. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥卒卒車炮兵炮兵士將傌車
    3. Black A6-5
  4. 4. Red P5=4 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    4. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界帥卒卒車炮兵炮將士傌車
    4. Black K6+1
  5. 5. Red P3+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.
    5. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界帥卒卒車炮炮兵士將傌車
    5. Black K6-1
  6. 6. Red C9=4 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    6楚河 漢界帥卒卒車炮炮兵士將傌車
    6. Red C9=4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥卒卒車炮炮兵士將傌車

Red wins after 6 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 100: Flying Steed Blazes the Path"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R1=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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 99: Raiding the Enemy Camp by NightNext puzzle: No. 101: Thunder Shakes a Hundred Miles →

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