No. 91: Six States Resist Qin
"No. 91: Six States Resist Qin" 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 H4+3. 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 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red H4+3Why 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 for1. Black R6-71. Black R6-7 - 2. Red R3=4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
- 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 A5-62. Black A5-6 - 3. Red C3=5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black A6+53. Black A6+5 - 4. Red R6=5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
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 H8+7Why 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 for6. Black K4+16. Black K4+1 - 7. Red R5=6Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for7. Black H2-47. Black H2-4 - 8. Red H7-5Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for8. Red H7-5
Variations and alternative defences
What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.
- 7. Black H2-4
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-5. 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. 91: Six States Resist Qin"?
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 H4+3 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. 88: Edge Soldier Wins the Day
- No. 89: Seven Powers Vie for Supremacy
- No. 90: Fine Steeds Race Ahead
- No. 92: Five Strongmen Carve the Road
- No. 93: Fish Startled by the Crescent Hook
- No. 94: Shouldering Books to Follow a Master
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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