No. 79: Four and Seven Side by Side

"No. 79: Four and Seven Side by Side" 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 C6+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 Horses, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C6+3 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5=4 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black K5=4
2. Red H9+8 (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.
2. Black E5-3 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black E5-3
3. Red H8-7 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K4+1
4. Red H7-5 (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.
4. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K4+1
5. Red H5-7 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K4-1
6. Red H7+8 (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.
6. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K4+1
7. Red H8+7 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K4-1
8. Red H7-8 (check)
8. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black K4-1
9. Red H6+7 (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.
9. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black K4=5
10. Red H8+7 (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 A5-4 (threatens mate next move)
10. Black A5-4
11. Red +H-6 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
11. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
11. Black K5+1
12. Red H6-7 (check)
12. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black K5=6
13. Red -H+5 (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+1 (threatens mate next move)
13. Black K6+1
14. Red C9-2 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
14. Red C9-2

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.

1. Black K5=4
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H9+7. Try it on the board
8. Black K4-1
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C9-2. Try it on the board
9. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black K5=6
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C9-2. 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. 79: Four and Seven Side by Side"?

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 C6+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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 78: Churning Rivers and Seas Next puzzle: No. 80: Soldiers Scattered Like Stars →

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