No. 32: Soldiers and Horses Like Clouds

No. 32: Soldiers and Horses Like Clouds楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮傌俥馬兵象士將士象

"No. 32: Soldiers and Horses Like Clouds" 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 H5+4. 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, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H5+4 (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.
    1. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮俥傌馬將兵象士士象
    1. Black K5+1
  2. 2. Red R8+2 (check, the only legal reply)
    Why it works
    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮將傌馬俥兵象士士象
    2. Black K5+1
  3. 3. Red R8-1 (check)
    3. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮俥傌馬將兵象士士象
    3. Black K5-1
  4. 4. Red H4-6 (check)
    4. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮傌俥馬兵象士將士象
    4. Black K5-1
  5. 5. Red R8=5 (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 for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    5. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮傌俥馬士兵象將士象
    5. Black A4+5
  6. 6. Red H6+4 (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.
    6. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮俥傌馬士兵象將士象
    6. Black K5=4
  7. 7. Red R5=6 (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.
    7. Black A5+4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮士傌馬兵象將士象
    7. Black A5+4
  8. 8. Red C8=6 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    8. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌卒卒仕相仕炮傌馬士兵象將士象
    8. Black A4-5
  9. 9. Red C6-3 (captures the Soldier, check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    9. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌炮卒仕相仕士傌馬兵象將士象
    9. Black A5+4
  10. 10. Red A6-5 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    10. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
    10楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲傌炮仕卒相仕傌馬士兵象將士象
    10. Black A4-5
  11. 11. Red H8+6 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    11. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)
    11楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲炮仕卒傌相仕士傌馬兵象將士象
    11. Black A5+4
  12. 12. Red H6+8 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    12. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
    12楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲炮仕卒相仕傌傌馬士兵象將士象
    12. Black A4-5
  13. 13. Red H8+6 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    13. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)
    13楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲炮仕卒相仕傌士傌馬兵象將士象
    13. Black A5+4
  14. 14. Red H6+7 (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.
    14. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
    14楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲炮仕卒相仕傌傌馬士兵象將士象
    14. Black A4-5
  15. 15. Red H7+8 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    15楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲炮仕卒相仕傌馬傌士兵象將士象
    15. Red H7+8

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界卒帥炮車砲炮仕卒相仕傌馬傌士兵象將士象

Red wins after 15 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 32: Soldiers and Horses Like Clouds"?

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 H5+4 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. 31: In War, Swiftness Beats FinesseNext puzzle: No. 33: Plans Decide Battles a Thousand Miles Away →

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