No. 26: Repaying Kindness Beyond Death

"No. 26: Repaying Kindness Beyond Death" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 11 moves; the key first move is H1+2. 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 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H1+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.
1. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black A5-6
2. Red C3+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.
2. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black A6+5
3. Red C3-4 (captures the Elephant, 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 Elephant.
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.
3. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black A5-6
4. Red H2-3 (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.
4. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black A6+5
5. Red P6+1 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Advisor.
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 A5-4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
5. Black A5-4
6. Red P7=6 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
6. Black K5=4
7. 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.
7. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K4+1
8. Red H4+5 (captures the Soldier, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black K4+1
9. Red H2-4 (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.
9. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black K4=5
10. Red C3=5 (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.
10. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
10. Black K5=6
11. Red C1=4 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
11. Red C1=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.

4. Black A6+5
- If Black plays R8-8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
8. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C3=5. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 11 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 26: Repaying Kindness Beyond Death"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H1+2 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. 25: Danger at One's Own Table Next puzzle: No. 27: Lotus Root Broken, Threads Still Bind →

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