No. 19: Withdrawn from the World, Unseen
"No. 19: Withdrawn from the World, Unseen" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is H9+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, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red H9+8Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for1. Black K4+11. Black K4+1 - 2. Red C9+4Why 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 Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black H3-12. Black H3-1 - 3. Red H8-6Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black K4+13. Black K4+1 - 4. Red C6-5Why 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.
What to watch out for4. Black K4=54. Black K4=5 - 5. Red P4=5Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for5. Black K5=65. Black K5=6 - 6. Red C6=4Why it works
- 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 for6. Black C6=46. Black C6=4 - 7. Red A5+4Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for7. Red A5+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.
- 1. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 6. Black C6=4
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with A5+4. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 19: Withdrawn from the World, Unseen"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
7 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move H9+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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 16: Reflect and Mend One's Faults
- No. 17: Retreat at an Easy Pace
- No. 18: Toying with the Hand of Fate
- No. 20: Curb the Strong, Aid the Weak
- No. 21: Perfect to the Very End
- No. 22: Passing the Exam, Longing for Home
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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