No. 10: Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water

No. 10: Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相兵傌俥士將士象炮

"No. 10: Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water" 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 R8+3. 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 Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R8+3 (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.
    1. Black A5-4
    1楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相兵傌俥士將士象炮
    1. Black A5-4
  2. 2. Red H3+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
    2楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相兵傌將俥士士象炮
    2. Black K5+1
  3. 3. Red R8-1 (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+1
    3楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相兵將傌俥士士象炮
    3. Black K5+1
  4. 4. Red P5+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.
    4. Black K5=6 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相兵將俥士士象炮
    4. Black K5=6
  5. 5. Red P5=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.
    5. Black K6=5
    5楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相兵將俥士士象炮
    5. Black K6=5
  6. 6. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • 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.
    6. Black K5=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車傌相將俥士士象炮
    6. Black K5=6
  7. 7. Red H7+6 (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.
    7. Black K6=5
    7楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車相傌將俥士士象炮
    7. Black K6=5
  8. 8. Red R8-1 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    8楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車相傌俥將士士象炮
    8. Red R8-1

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.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲相仕帥仕馬馬車相傌俥將士士象炮

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 10: Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water"?

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 R8+3 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.

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