No. 15: Deftly Ringing the War Bell
"No. 15: Deftly Ringing the War Bell" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is R2+4. 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, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R2+4Why it works
- 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.
1. Black H9-81. Black H9-8 - 2. Red P6+1Why 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 for- Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black K5=42. Black K5=4 - 3. Red R4+1Why 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.
3. Black A5-63. Black A5-6 - 4. Red P7=6Why 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 for- Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black K4+14. Black K4+1 - 5. Red C1=6Why 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 for5. Black A4-55. Black A4-5 - 6. Red C5=6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for6. Red C5=6
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 H9-8
- If Black plays C7-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=3. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 6 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 15: Deftly Ringing the War Bell"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
6 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R2+4 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. 12: Tumbling Ape Drinks from the Stream
- No. 13: Eyes on the Rushing Torrent
- No. 14: Lone Deer Calls in the Marsh
- No. 16: Reflect and Mend One's Faults
- No. 17: Retreat at an Easy Pace
- No. 18: Toying with the Hand of Fate
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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