No. 45: Meet Water, Build a Bridge
"No. 45: Meet Water, Build a Bridge" 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 P4+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, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red P4+1Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black R7=61. Black R7=6 - 2. Red H2+3Why 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 for2. Black R6+12. Black R6+1 - 3. Red R2+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.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black A5-63. Black A5-6 - 4. Red R2=4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for4. Black K5+14. Black K5+1 - 5. Red R4-1Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for- The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
5. Black K5-15. Black K5-1 - 6. Red R4=6Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for6. Black K5=66. Black K5=6 - 7. Red R6+1Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
7. Black R4-87. Black R4-8 - 8. Red C8=4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for8. Black P7=68. Black P7=6 - 9. Red +C=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.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for9. Black P6=79. Black P6=7 - 10. Red H3-4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for10. Black P7=610. Black P7=6 - 11. Red H4-2Why 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 for11. Black P6=711. Black P6=7 - 12. Red H2+3Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for12. Black K6+112. Black K6+1 - 13. Red H3-4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for13. Black P7=613. Black P7=6 - 14. Red H4-2Why 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 for14. Black P6=714. Black P6=7 - 15. Red H2-4Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for15. Red H2-4
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 R7=6
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H2+4. Try it on the board
- 5. Black K5-1
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H3-4. Try it on the board
- 7. Black R4-8
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3-4. Try it on the board
- 8. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 10. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 13. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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. 45: Meet Water, Build a Bridge"?
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 P4+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. 42: Stars That Never Meet
- No. 43: Utter Loyalty to the Nation
- No. 44: Near Ones Rejoice, Far Ones Come
- No. 46: Befriend the Far, Attack the Near
- No. 47: Frontier Guard Asks Leave to Return
- No. 48: Sleeping on Brushwood, Tasting Gall
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