No. 89: Seven Powers Vie for Supremacy

"No. 89: Seven Powers Vie for Supremacy" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 14 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, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
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=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
1. Black K5=6
2. Red H1+2 (check)
2. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K6=5
3. Red C1+4 (check)
3. Black E7+5 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black E7+5
4. Red H2-4 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K5=6
5. Red H4+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.
5. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K6+1
6. Red +R=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.
6. Black H8-6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
6. Black H8-6
7. Red R7+5 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
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.
7. Black +A-5 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black +A-5
8. Red C9=4 (captures the Soldier, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black H6+8 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black H6+8
9. Red H3-4 (check, sacrifices the Horse)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
9. Black K6+1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
9. Black K6+1
10. Red P3=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.
10. Black H8-6 (threatens mate next move)
10. Black H8-6
11. Red P4+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.
11. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
11. Black K6-1
12. Red P4+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.
12. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black K6-1
13. Red P4+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.
13. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
13. Black K6=5
14. Red P4+1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
14. Red P4+1

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 9 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 9: H8-6 10. H4+2+ Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 8: H6-4 9. H3-4+ H4-6 10. H4+2+ H6-7 11. P3=4+ H7+6 12. C1-1# Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 6: 6. +R+4+ +A-5 7. +R=5+ A4+5 8. H3-2+ K6-1 9. C9+6+ A5-4 10. H2+3+ K6+1 11. R7+5+ A4+5 12. R7=5# Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 9: H2-4 10. H2+3+ K6+1 11. C9-1+ A5+4 12. R7+5+ A4-5 13. R7=5# Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 4: K5+1 5. +R+4# Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 3: K5+1 4. +R+4+ K5+1 5. C9+4+ +A-5 6. -R+4+ A5+4 7. +R=5+ K5-1 8. R7+1# Try it on the board
Variation 7, from move 7: -A+5 8. R7-1# Try it on the board
Variation 8, from move 1: K5+1 2. +R+4+ K5+1 3. C9+4+ +A-5 4. -R+4+ A5+4 5. +R=5+ -A+5 6. R7-1# Try it on the board
Variation 9, from move 5: K5-1 6. R7+1# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 14 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 89: Seven Powers Vie for Supremacy"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

14 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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 88: Edge Soldier Wins the Day Next puzzle: No. 90: Fine Steeds Race Ahead →

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