No. 6: Fly Rides the Steed's Tail

No. 6: Fly Rides the Steed's Tail楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車炮馬傌兵車兵兵卒卒俥傌士俥象將士象馬

"No. 6: Fly Rides the Steed's Tail" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 22 moves; the key first move is C5+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, a Advisor, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red C5+4 (captures the Soldier, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
    Why 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 for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥士傌俥象將士象馬
    1. Black A5+6
  2. 2. Red R6=5 (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.
    2. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥士傌俥象將士象馬
    2. Black K5=4
  3. 3. Red R4=6 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    3. Black K4+1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥士傌將象士象馬
    3. Black K4+1
  4. 4. Red H3+4 (captures the Advisor, check, 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.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    4. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥士象將傌象馬
    4. Black K4-1
  5. 5. Red R5=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.
    5. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥士象將傌象馬
    5. Black K4=5
  6. 6. Red H4-5 (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.
    6. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥傌士象將象馬
    6. Black A6-5
  7. 7. Red H5+3 (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=6 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒俥士傌象將象馬
    7. Black K5=6
  8. 8. Red R6=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
    • Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    8. Black A5+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒士傌象將象馬
    8. Black A5+6
  9. 9. Red C5=4 (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.
    9. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕車馬傌兵車兵兵炮卒士傌象將象馬
    9. Black A6-5
  10. 10. Red C4-5 (captures the Chariot, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    10. Black A5+6
    10楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬傌兵車兵兵卒士傌象將象馬
    10. Black A5+6
  11. 11. Red P4=5 (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.
    11. Black A6-5
    11楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬傌兵車兵兵卒士傌象將象馬
    11. Black A6-5
  12. 12. Red H6+4 (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.
    12. Black A5+6
    12楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵傌兵卒士傌象將象馬
    12. Black A5+6
  13. 13. Red H4+3 (captures the Soldier, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    13. Black A6-5
    13楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌士傌象將象馬
    13. Black A6-5
  14. 14. Red -H-4 (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.
    14. Black A5+6
    14楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵傌兵士傌象將象馬
    14. Black A5+6
  15. 15. Red H4+2 (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.
    15. Black A6-5
    15楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌士傌象將象馬
    15. Black A6-5
  16. 16. Red H2+4 (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.
    16. Black A5+6
    16楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌士傌象將象馬
    16. Black A5+6
  17. 17. Red H4+6 (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.
    17. Black A6-5
    17楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌士傌象將象馬
    17. Black A6-5
  18. 18. Red H3-4 (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.
    18. Black A5+6
    18楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌傌士象將象馬
    18. Black A5+6
  19. 19. Red H4+2 (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.
    19. Black A6-5
    19楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌傌士象將象馬
    19. Black A6-5
  20. 20. Red H2+4 (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.
    20. Black A5+6
    20楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌士傌象將象馬
    20. Black A5+6
  21. 21. Red H4+2 (captures the Horse, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Horse.
    • 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.
    21. Black A6-5
    21楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌士象將象傌
    21. Black A6-5
  22. 22. Red H2-3 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    22楚河 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌傌士象將象
    22. Red H2-3

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 漢界帥砲卒仕炮馬兵車兵兵傌傌士象將象

Red wins after 22 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 6: Fly Rides the Steed's Tail"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C5+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.

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