No. 14: Lone Deer Calls in the Marsh

"No. 14: Lone Deer Calls in the Marsh" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 8 moves; the key first move is H8+6. 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 Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H8+6 (check, sacrifices the Horse, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black A5+4 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
1. Black A5+4
2. Red C8+4 (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 K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5+1
3. Red R8+4 (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.
3. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K5+1
4. Red C9-2 (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.
4. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black A4-5
5. Red R8-1 (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.
5. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black A5+4
6. Red R8-1 (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.
6. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K5-1
7. Red R8+2 (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 K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K5-1
8. Red C9+2 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Red C9+2

Variations and alternative defences

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

Variation 1, from move 1: K5=4 2. H6+7+ K4+1 3. R8=6+ A5+4 4. R6+3# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 8 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 14: Lone Deer Calls in the Marsh"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H8+6 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. 13: Eyes on the Rushing Torrent Next puzzle: No. 15: Deftly Ringing the War Bell →

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