No. 2: Horse Tramples the Khan's Consort

No. 2: Horse Tramples the Khan's Consort楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥俥兵卒傌卒卒馬砲馬士炮將士象

"No. 2: Horse Tramples the Khan's Consort" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 20 moves; the key first move is +R+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, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red +R+4 (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 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒傌卒卒馬砲馬炮俥士將士象
    1. Black A5-4
  2. 2. Red +R-1 (check, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒傌卒卒馬砲馬俥士炮將士象
    2. Black A4+5
  3. 3. Red C7+8 (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.
    3. Black H1-2 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒傌卒卒砲馬俥士炮馬炮將士象
    3. Black H1-2
  4. 4. Red C7-8 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • 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 A5-4 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒傌卒卒砲馬俥炮馬士將士象
    4. Black A5-4
  5. 5. Red +R=5 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • 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.
    5. Black A6+5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒傌卒卒砲馬士炮馬士將象
    5. Black A6+5
  6. 6. Red H6+7 (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.
    6. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒卒卒砲馬傌士炮馬士將象
    6. Black K5=6
  7. 7. Red R8=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    7. Black C5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵俥兵卒卒卒砲馬傌士炮馬士將象
    7. Black C5=6
  8. 8. Red R4+3 (captures the Cannon, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Cannon.
    • 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 漢界砲車仕帥傌炮卒卒相兵兵兵卒卒卒士馬傌炮馬士將象
    8. Black A5+6
  9. 9. Red C7=4 (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.
    9. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界砲車仕帥傌卒炮相兵兵兵卒卒卒馬傌士炮馬士將象
    9. Black A6-5
  10. 10. 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.
    10. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    10楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相傌兵兵兵卒卒卒士馬傌炮馬士將象
    10. Black A5+6
  11. 11. 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.
    11. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    11楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵傌兵卒卒卒馬傌士炮馬士將象
    11. Black A6-5
  12. 12. 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.
    12. Black A5+6 (threatens mate next move)
    12楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵傌兵卒卒卒士馬傌炮馬士將象
    12. Black A5+6
  13. 13. Red H4+5 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
    • 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.
    13. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    13楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒傌卒馬傌士炮馬士將象
    13. Black A6-5
  14. 14. Red H5+3 (captures the Horse, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Horse.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    14. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    14楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒卒傌傌士將炮馬士象
    14. Black K6+1
  15. 15. Red H3-5 (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.
    15. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    15楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒傌卒傌士炮馬士將象
    15. Black K6-1
  16. 16. Red H5-4 (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 (threatens mate next move)
    16楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵傌兵卒卒士傌炮馬士將象
    16. Black A5+6
  17. 17. Red H4+3 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
    • 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.
    17. Black A6-5 (threatens mate next move)
    17楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒傌傌士炮馬士將象
    17. Black A6-5
  18. 18. Red H3+2 (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.
    18. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    18楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒傌士將傌炮馬士象
    18. Black K6+1
  19. 19. Red H2-4 (check, sacrifices the Horse, 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 Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    19. Black K6+1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
    19楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒將傌士炮馬士象
    19. Black K6+1
  20. 20. Red P3=4 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    20楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒將傌士炮馬士象
    20. Red P3=4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲車仕帥卒炮相兵兵兵卒將傌士炮馬士象

Red wins after 20 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 2: Horse Tramples the Khan's Consort"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move +R+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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 1: Spirit That Swallows the Western PassNext puzzle: No. 3: Ram Caught in the Fence →

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