No. 36: Crane Calls from the Deep Marsh

No. 36: Crane Calls from the Deep Marsh楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒卒相仕車炮傌俥炮士象俥士馬將象

"No. 36: Crane Calls from the Deep Marsh" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is R7+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 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R7+3 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    1. Black -R-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒卒相仕炮傌炮士象俥士馬車將象
    1. Black -R-4
  2. 2. Red H8+6 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒卒相仕炮炮傌象俥士馬車將象
    2. Black K5=6
  3. 3. Red R3=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    3. Black A5+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒卒相仕炮炮傌象士馬車將象
    3. Black A5+6
  4. 4. Red C5=4 (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 A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒卒相仕炮炮傌象士馬車將象
    4. Black A6-5
  5. 5. Red C4-4 (captures the Soldier, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • 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.
    5. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒炮相仕炮傌象士馬車將象
    5. Black A5+6
  6. 6. Red A4-5 (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.
    6. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌馬卒仕炮相炮傌象士馬車將象
    6. Black A6-5
  7. 7. Red H3+4 (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.
    7. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒仕炮相傌炮傌象士馬車將象
    7. Black A5+6
  8. 8. Red H4+2 (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.
    8. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒仕炮相傌炮傌象士馬車將象
    8. Black A6-5
  9. 9. Red H2+4 (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.
    9. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒仕炮相傌炮傌象士馬車將象
    9. Black A5+6
  10. 10. 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.
    10. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    10楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒仕炮相傌炮傌象士馬車將象
    10. Black A6-5
  11. 11. Red H3+2 (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.
    11. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    11楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒仕炮相炮傌象士將傌馬車象
    11. Black K6+1
  12. 12. Red H2-4 (check, sacrifices the Horse, 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 for
    • Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    12. Black K6+1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
    12楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒仕炮相炮傌象將士馬車象
    12. Black K6+1
  13. 13. Red A5+4 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    13楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒炮相仕炮傌象將士馬車象
    13. Red A5+4

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲車仕帥馬卒炮相仕炮傌象將士馬車象

Red wins after 13 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 36: Crane Calls from the Deep Marsh"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R7+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. 35: Dragon Churns the Pool's DepthsNext puzzle: No. 37: Harm Others to Secure Oneself →

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