No. 66: Giving One's Life in Peril
"No. 66: Giving One's Life in Peril" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 3 moves; the key first move is R6+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 Chariots, 2 Horses. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R6+1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
- 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.
1. Black A5-41. Black A5-4 - 2. Red R8=5Why 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 for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black E3+52. Black E3+5 - 3. Red H8-6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for3. Red H8-6
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.
- 2. Black E3+5
- If Black plays A4+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+1. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 3 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 66: Giving One's Life in Peril"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
3 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R6+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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 63: Wheels of the Leading Carriage
- No. 64: Turning the Weapons Around
- No. 65: Pushing Open the Window to View the Moon
- No. 67: Duck Snare and Fish Net
- No. 68: Smashing the Cup at Hongmen
- No. 69: A Step into the Snare
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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