No. 64: Turning the Weapons Around

No. 64: Turning the Weapons Around楚河 漢界俥砲炮卒卒砲帥兵車卒兵象炮兵象將

"No. 64: Turning the Weapons Around" 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 C9+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, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red C9+1 (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.
    1. Black E3+1 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界俥砲炮卒卒砲帥兵車卒象兵象兵炮將
    1. Black E3+1
  2. 2. Red C6+8 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • 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 E1-3 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界俥砲卒卒砲帥兵車卒兵象兵炮象炮將
    2. Black E1-3
  3. 3. Red R6=1 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black R9+3 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界車卒卒砲帥兵卒兵象兵炮象炮將
    3. Black R9+3
  4. 4. Red C6-9 (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.
    4. Black E3+1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界炮車卒卒砲帥兵卒象兵象兵炮將
    4. Black E3+1
  5. 5. Red C6=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    5. Black P6+1 (captures the Cannon)
    5楚河 漢界卒車卒砲帥兵卒象兵象兵炮將
    5. Black P6+1
  6. 6. Red P8+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black R9-2 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    6楚河 漢界卒卒砲帥車兵卒象象兵兵炮將
    6. Black R9-2
  7. 7. Red K5-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black R9=4 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界卒帥卒砲車兵卒象象兵兵炮將
    7. Black R9=4
  8. 8. Red P8+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.
    8. Black R4-7
    8楚河 漢界卒帥卒砲兵卒象象兵炮兵車將
    8. Black R4-7
  9. 9. Red C9=6 (captures the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black C1=2
    9楚河 漢界卒帥卒砲兵卒象象兵兵炮將
    9. Black C1=2
  10. 10. Red C6-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black C2-6
    10楚河 漢界卒帥卒兵卒象象砲炮兵兵將
    10. Black C2-6
  11. 11. Red C6-6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black C2+6
    11楚河 漢界卒帥卒砲炮兵卒象象兵兵將
    11. Black C2+6
  12. 12. Red C6-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black C2+1 (check)
    12楚河 漢界卒砲炮帥卒兵卒象象兵兵將
    12. Black C2+1
  13. 13. Red C6+5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black C2-2
    13楚河 漢界卒帥卒兵砲卒炮象象兵兵將
    13. Black C2-2
  14. 14. Red C6-4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black C2+1
    14楚河 漢界卒帥卒砲炮兵卒象象兵兵將
    14. Black C2+1

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界卒帥卒砲炮兵卒象象兵兵將

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 64: Turning the Weapons Around"?

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 C9+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.

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