No. 20: Curb the Strong, Aid the Weak

No. 20: Curb the Strong, Aid the Weak楚河 漢界帥砲卒車兵炮兵傌卒卒卒俥象士兵俥象士將車

"No. 20: Curb the Strong, Aid the Weak" 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 R1+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 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R1+1 (sacrifices the Chariot)
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black R8=9 (captures the Chariot)
    1楚河 漢界帥砲卒車兵炮兵傌卒卒卒俥象士兵象士將車
    1. Black R8=9
  2. 2. Red R7=5 (captures the Elephant, 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 for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    2. Black P3+1 (captures the Cannon)
    2楚河 漢界帥砲卒車兵卒兵傌卒卒俥士兵象士將車
    2. Black P3+1
  3. 3. Red H8+6 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black R5=6 (check, threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥砲卒車兵卒兵傌卒卒俥士兵象士將車
    3. Black R5=6
  4. 4. Red K4+1 (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 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black C9=3
    4楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥士兵象士將車
    4. Black C9=3
  5. 5. Red R5=7 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    5. Black A5+4
    5楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥士兵象士將車
    5. Black A5+4
  6. 6. Red R7=6 (captures the Advisor)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black R9=8
    6楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥兵象士將車
    6. Black R9=8
  7. 7. Red R6=2 (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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    7. Black P4=5 (check)
    7楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥兵象士將車
    7. Black P4=5
  8. 8. Red K4+1 (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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black R8=7
    8楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥兵象士將車
    8. Black R8=7
  9. 9. Red R2=4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black A4+5
    9楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥士兵象將車
    9. Black A4+5
  10. 10. Red P4=5 (captures the Advisor, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    10. Black K5=4
    10楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥兵象將車
    10. Black K5=4
  11. 11. Red R4=6 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    11楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥兵象將車
    11. Red R4=6

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲卒帥兵卒兵傌卒卒俥兵象將車

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 20: Curb the Strong, Aid the Weak"?

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 R1+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. 19: Withdrawn from the World, UnseenNext puzzle: No. 21: Perfect to the Very End →

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