No. 21: Perfect to the Very End

No. 21: Perfect to the Very End楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象傌象傌俥士俥士將

"No. 21: Perfect to the Very End" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is R4+1. 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 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R4+1 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    1. Black K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象傌象傌俥士士將
    1. Black K5=6
  2. 2. Red H3+2 (check, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象象傌俥士傌士將
    2. Black K6=5
  3. 3. Red H1+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.
    3. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象象俥士傌傌士將
    3. Black K5=6
  4. 4. Red H3-5 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    4. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象傌俥士傌士將
    4. Black K6=5
  5. 5. Red H5+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.
    5. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象俥士傌傌士將
    5. Black K5=6
  6. 6. Red R6+1 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out for
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    6. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象士將傌傌俥
    6. Black K6+1
  7. 7. Red H2-3 (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.
    7. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象傌將士傌俥
    7. Black K6+1
  8. 8. Red R6=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.
    8. Black A5-6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象傌將傌士
    8. Black A5-6
  9. 9. Red +H+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.
    9. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界帥車卒車相炮馬相卒兵象傌將士傌
    9. Black A6+5
  10. 10. Red C5+6 (captures the Advisor, 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 for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black +P+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    10楚河 漢界卒帥車車相馬相卒兵象傌將炮傌
    10. Black +P+1
  11. 11. Red K5=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R3=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    11楚河 漢界帥車車相馬相卒兵象傌將炮傌
    11. Black R3=4
  12. 12. Red K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black R4+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    12楚河 漢界車帥車相馬相卒兵象傌將炮傌
    12. Black R4+1
  13. 13. Red K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black R7=4 (check)
    13楚河 漢界帥車相馬相卒兵象傌將炮傌
    13. Black R7=4
  14. 14. Red K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black R4+1 (check, the only legal reply)
    14楚河 漢界車帥相馬相卒兵象傌將炮傌
    14. Black R4+1
  15. 15. Red K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black H7-5 (captures the Soldier)
    15楚河 漢界帥相相卒馬象傌將炮傌
    15. Black H7-5
  16. 16. Red C5-4 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    16楚河 漢界帥相相卒馬炮象傌將傌
    16. Red C5-4

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥相相卒馬炮象傌將傌

Red wins after 16 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 21: Perfect to the Very End"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R4+1 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. 20: Curb the Strong, Aid the WeakNext puzzle: No. 22: Passing the Exam, Longing for Home →

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