No. 72: Swift Steed Chases the Wind

"No. 72: Swift Steed Chases the Wind" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 15 moves; the key first move is H1-3. 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, 2 Elephants, a Horse, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H1-3 (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.
1. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black K5=4
2. Red H9+8 (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.
2. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K4+1
3. Red H3-5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
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.
3. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black A5+6
4. 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.
4. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K4+1
5. 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.
5. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K4-1
6. Red +H-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.
6. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K4-1
7. 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.
7. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K4+1
8. Red H5+4 (captures the Advisor, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black E7+5 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black E7+5
9. Red H8-7 (check)
9. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black K4-1
10. Red C1+1 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
10. Black A6+5
11. Red H4+3 (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.
11. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
11. Black A5-6
12. Red H7+5 (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.
12. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black K4+1
13. Red H5-7 (check)
13. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
13. Black K4=5
14. Red H7-5 (check)
14. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
14. Black K5=6
15. Red H3-2 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Red H3-2

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 3 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 10: E5-7 11. H7+8# Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 8: K4=5 9. H4+2+ K5-1 10. H8-6+ Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 9: K5+1 10. H8-7+ K5=4 11. H7-5# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 15 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 72: Swift Steed Chases the Wind"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

15 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move H1-3 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. 71: Shocking to Behold Next puzzle: No. 73: Fish Leaps in the Deep →

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