No. 5: Han Xin Meets the Han Lord
"No. 5: Han Xin Meets the Han Lord" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 15 moves; the key first move is R3+1. 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, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R3+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 for1. Black K6+11. Black K6+1 - 2. Red H4+2Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for2. Black K6+12. Black K6+1 - 3. Red R3-2Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for3. Black K6-13. Black K6-1 - 4. Red R3+14. Black K6+1
4. Black K6+1 - 5. Red H2-3Why 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 for5. Black K6=55. Black K6=5 - 6. Red H3+5Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for6. Black K5=46. Black K5=4 - 7. Red R3-1Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for7. Black -E+57. Black -E+5 - 8. Red R3=5Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
8. Black E3-58. Black E3-5 - 9. Red C5=6Why it works
- 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 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black H4-29. Black H4-2 - 10. Red H5-6Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for10. Black H2-410. Black H2-4 - 11. Red H6+7Why 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.
11. Black H4+311. Black H4+3 - 12. Red C6-2Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Wins material: takes the Chariot.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for12. Black H3-412. Black H3-4 - 13. Red H7+8Why 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 for13. Black K4-113. Black K4-1 - 14. Red R7+8Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for14. Black K4+114. Black K4+1 - 15. Red R7=5Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
- Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for15. Red R7=5
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.
- 4. Black K6+1
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- 6. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- 7. Black -E+5
- If Black plays +E-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 8. Black E3-5
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 9. Black H4-2
- If Black plays H4-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+6 instead: Red mates immediately with H8-6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+2 instead: Red mates immediately with H8-6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4-5 instead: Red mates immediately with H8-6. Try it on the board
- 11. Black H4+3
- If Black plays H4-6 instead: Red mates immediately with C6-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 15 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 5: Han Xin Meets the Han Lord"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
15 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R3+1 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. 2: Horse Tramples the Khan's Consort
- No. 3: Ram Caught in the Fence
- No. 4: Good General Secures the Frontier
- No. 6: Fly Rides the Steed's Tail
- No. 7: Spring Thunder Wakes the Insects
- No. 8: Pearl Hidden in the Casket
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