No. 24: Faithful Steed Saves Its Master

No. 24: Faithful Steed Saves Its Master楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象卒傌卒傌馬士象士將

"No. 24: Faithful Steed Saves Its Master" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 25 moves; the key first move is H2+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, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H2+3 (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=6 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象卒傌卒馬士傌象士將
    1. Black K5=6
  2. 2. Red C1=4 (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.
    2. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象卒傌卒馬士傌象士將
    2. Black A5+6
  3. 3. Red H4-3 (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.
    3. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒卒馬士傌象士將
    3. Black A6-5
  4. 4. Red -H-4 (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.
    4. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒傌兵象卒卒馬士傌象士將
    4. Black A5+6
  5. 5. Red H4+2 (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.
    5. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒卒馬士傌象士將
    5. Black A6-5
  6. 6. Red H2+4 (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.
    6. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒卒馬士傌象士將
    6. Black A5+6
  7. 7. Red H4+5 (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.
    7. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象傌卒馬士傌象士將
    7. Black A6-5
  8. 8. Red H5-4 (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 A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒馬士傌象士將
    8. Black A5+6
  9. 9. Red H4+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.
    9. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒馬士傌象士將
    9. Black A6-5
  10. 10. Red H6+4 (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 A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    10楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象傌卒馬士傌象士將
    10. Black A5+6
  11. 11. Red H4+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 A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    11楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象卒馬傌士傌象士將
    11. Black A6-5
  12. 12. Red H3-4 (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 A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    12楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象傌卒馬傌士象士將
    12. Black A5+6
  13. 13. Red H4-6 (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 A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    13楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒馬傌士象士將
    13. Black A6-5
  14. 14. Red -H-4 (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.
    14. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    14楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象卒馬傌士象士將
    14. Black A5+6
  15. 15. Red H4+3 (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.
    15. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    15楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象傌馬傌士象士將
    15. Black A6-5
  16. 16. Red H3+4 (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.
    16. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    16楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象馬傌士傌象士將
    16. Black A5+6
  17. 17. Red H4+6 (captures the Advisor, 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 Advisor.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    17. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    17楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象馬傌士象傌將
    17. Black A6-5
  18. 18. Red +H-4 (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.
    18. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    18楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象馬傌士傌象將
    18. Black A5+6
  19. 19. Red H4-2 (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.
    19. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    19楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象馬傌傌士象將
    19. Black A6-5
  20. 20. Red H2-4 (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.
    20. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    20楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵象傌馬傌士象將
    20. Black A5+6
  21. 21. Red H4-3 (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.
    21. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    21楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒兵傌象馬傌士象將
    21. Black A6-5
  22. 22. Red H3-4 (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.
    22. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    22楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥帥炮卒傌兵象馬傌士象將
    22. Black A5+6
  23. 23. Red H4-6 (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.
    23. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    23楚河 漢界馬車相砲車俥傌帥炮卒兵象馬傌士象將
    23. Black A6-5
  24. 24. Red R7+8 (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.
    24. Black A5-4 (threatens mate next move)
    24楚河 漢界馬車相砲車傌帥炮卒兵象馬傌俥士將
    24. Black A5-4
  25. 25. Red R7=6 (captures the Advisor, checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    25楚河 漢界馬車相砲車傌帥炮卒兵象馬傌俥將
    25. Red R7=6

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界馬車相砲車傌帥炮卒兵象馬傌俥將

Red wins after 25 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 24: Faithful Steed Saves Its Master"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H2+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.

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