No. 22: Passing the Exam, Longing for Home

"No. 22: Passing the Exam, Longing for Home" 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+8. 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 Advisor, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red R7+8 (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 K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black K4-1
2. Red C9=6 (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.
2. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K4=5
3. Red R7=5 (captures the Advisor, 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.
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 for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black A4-5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
3. Black A4-5
4. Red P4=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K5=4
5. Red H7-6 (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.
5. Black C2=4 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black C2=4
6. Red H6-8 (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.
6. Black C4=2 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black C4=2
7. 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.
7. Black C2=4 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black C2=4
8. Red H6+5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
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.
8. Black C4=2 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black C4=2
9. Red H5-6 (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 C2=4 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black C2=4
10. Red H6-7 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. Black C4=2 (threatens mate next move)
10. Black C4=2
11. Red H7-6 (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 C2=4
11. Black C2=4
12. Red H6-4 (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.
12. Black C4=2 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black C4=2
13. Red R3+9 (captures the Elephant, checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
13. Red R3+9

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 K5=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
6. Black C4=2
- If Black plays C4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C4=2
- If Black plays C4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C4=2
- If Black plays C4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black C4=2
- If Black plays C4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+9. Try it on the board

Final position

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 22: Passing the Exam, Longing for Home"?

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+8 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. 21: Perfect to the Very End Next puzzle: No. 23: Pearl Lost in the Vast Sea →

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