No. 73: Fish Leaps in the Deep
"No. 73: Fish Leaps in the Deep" 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 R8=5. 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 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R8=5Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5+11. Black K5+1 - 2. Red H4+62. Black K5-1
2. Black K5-1 - 3. Red H6+73. Black K5=4
3. Black K5=4 - 4. Red H7-5Why 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 for4. Black K4=54. Black K4=5 - 5. Red H5+35. Black K5+1
5. Black K5+1 - 6. Red H8-6Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for6. Black K5=46. Black K5=4 - 7. Red R4+47. Black K4-1
7. Black K4-1 - 8. Red R4+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 for8. Black K4+18. Black K4+1 - 9. Red H6+8Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for9. Black K4=59. Black K4=5 - 10. Red H3-410. Black H8+6
10. Black H8+6 - 11. Red H8-611. Black K5=4
11. Black K5=4 - 12. Red H6+4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for12. Black K4=512. Black K4=5 - 13. Red +H-613. Black K5=4
13. Black K5=4 - 14. Red H6+8Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for14. Red H6+8
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 4 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 7: K4+1 8. H3-4+ K4=5 9. R4=5# Try it on the board
- Variation 2, from move 3: K5+1 4. H8+7+ K5=4 5. R4+4+ K4-1 6. -H-5+ K4=5 7. H7-6# Try it on the board
- Variation 3, from move 5: K4+1 6. -H-6+ K4=5 7. R4=5# Try it on the board
- Variation 4, from move 1: K5=4 2. R5=6+ K4=5 3. R6+1+ K5=4 4. H4+5+ K4=5 5. H5+3+ 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. 73: Fish Leaps in the Deep"?
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 R8=5 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. 70: Kite Soars to the Heavens
- No. 71: Shocking to Behold
- No. 72: Swift Steed Chases the Wind
- No. 74: Climbing High, Treading Danger
- No. 75: The Mighty Chief Yields in His Heart
- No. 76: Languid Orioles, Idle Butterflies
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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