No. 84: Two Dragonflies Skim the Water
"No. 84: Two Dragonflies Skim the Water" 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 H7+6. 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 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Horse, 3 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red H7+6Why 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 E5-31. Black E5-3 - 2. Red P5=4Why 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 for2. Black K6=52. Black K6=5 - 3. Red H6-7Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black E3+53. Black E3+5 - 4. Red H8-6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for4. Red H8-6
Final position
Red wins after 4 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 84: Two Dragonflies Skim the Water"?
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 H7+6 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. 81: Tracking Down Every Trace
- No. 82: Misfortunes Never Come Alone
- No. 83: Beauty That Sinks Fish and Drops Geese
- No. 85: A Steed Is Not Prized for Strength
- No. 86: Strategy Decides Victory
- No. 87: Digging a Channel to Draw Water
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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