No. 38: A Hundred Schemes, No Way Out

No. 38: A Hundred Schemes, No Way Out楚河 漢界帥車卒俥相兵砲卒卒炮士兵車士將象俥

"No. 38: A Hundred Schemes, No Way Out" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is R2=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 Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R2=1 (sacrifices the Chariot)
    Why it works–
    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 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black R9-1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥車卒俥相兵砲卒卒炮士兵士將象車
    1. Black R9-1
  2. 2. Red C2+3 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 for
    • Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    2. Black R9=8 (captures the Cannon)
    2楚河 漢界帥車卒俥相兵砲卒卒士兵士將象車
    2. Black R9=8
  3. 3. Red +P=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out for
    • The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
    3. Black K5=6
    3楚河 漢界帥車卒俥相兵砲卒卒兵士將象車
    3. Black K5=6
  4. 4. Red R8+5 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black R6=4
    4楚河 漢界帥車卒相兵砲卒卒兵俥士將象車
    4. Black R6=4
  5. 5. Red P5+1 (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 K6+1
    5楚河 漢界帥車卒相兵砲卒卒將俥士兵象車
    5. Black K6+1
  6. 6. Red R8-1 (check)
    6. Black K6+1
    6楚河 漢界帥車卒相兵砲卒卒將俥士兵象車
    6. Black K6+1
  7. 7. Red P4+1 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    7楚河 漢界帥車卒相砲卒兵卒將俥士兵象車
    7. Red P4+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 漢界帥車卒相砲卒兵卒將俥士兵象車

Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 38: A Hundred Schemes, No Way Out"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2=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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 37: Harm Others to Secure OneselfNext puzzle: No. 39: Burning the Camp at Bowang →

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