No. 90: Fine Steeds Race Ahead

No. 90: Fine Steeds Race Ahead楚河 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬傌卒卒卒砲象砲俥傌士將士

"No. 90: Fine Steeds Race Ahead" 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 H6-4. 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, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H6-4 (check, sacrifices the Horse, 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 Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    1. Black C2=6 (captures the Horse)
    1楚河 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬傌卒卒卒象砲砲俥士將士
    1. Black C2=6
  2. 2. Red H8+7 (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 K5+1
    2楚河 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬卒卒卒象砲砲俥傌將士士
    2. Black K5+1
  3. 3. Red H7-6 (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.
    3. Black K5-1
    3楚河 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬卒傌卒卒象砲砲俥士將士
    3. Black K5-1
  4. 4. Red R8=5 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • 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.
    4. Black A6+5 (captures the Chariot)
    4楚河 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬卒傌卒卒象砲砲士士將
    4. Black A6+5
  5. 5. Red H6+7 (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 K5=6
    5楚河 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬卒卒卒象砲砲傌士士將
    5. Black K5=6
  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 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬卒卒卒象砲砲傌士士將
    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 漢界車仕帥仕卒車馬炮兵兵炮俥馬卒卒卒象砲砲傌士士將

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 90: Fine Steeds Race Ahead"?

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 H6-4 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.

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