Attending the Feast With a Single Blade

"Attending the Feast With a Single Blade" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 41 moves; the key first move is R2+7. 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 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R2+7 (check)
1. Black C5-1
2. Red R2=5 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
2. Black K4=5 (captures the Chariot)
3. Red R5=2
3. Black +P=5 (check, the only legal reply)
4. Red K5=4
4. Black K5=4
5. Red R2+7 (check, the only legal reply)
5. Black K4+1
6. Red R2-3
6. Black K4-1
7. Red P5=6
7. Black K4=5
8. Red R2=5 (check)
8. Black K5=4
9. Red R5=8
9. Black K4=5
10. Red R8+3 (check)
10. Black K5+1
11. Red R8-1 (check, the only legal reply)
11. Black K5-1
12. Red P6=5
12. Black K5=4
13. Red R8+1 (check)
13. Black K4+1
14. Red R8-2
14. Black K4-1
15. Red R8=6 (check, the only legal reply)
15. Black K4=5
16. Red R6=9 (captures the Elephant)
16. Black K5=4
17. Red R9+2 (check, the only legal reply)
17. Black K4+1
18. Red R9-3
18. Black K4-1
19. Red P5=6
19. Black K4=5
20. Red R9=5 (check)
20. Black K5=4
21. Red R5-4
21. Black P3+1
22. Red R5=2
22. Black K4=5
23. Red R2+7 (check, the only legal reply)
23. Black K5+1
24. Red R2-1 (check, the only legal reply)
24. Black K5-1
25. Red P6=5
25. Black K5=4
26. Red R2+1 (check, the only legal reply)
26. Black K4+1
27. Red R2-3
27. Black K4-1
28. Red R2=6 (check, the only legal reply)
28. Black K4=5
29. Red R6=8
29. Black K5=4
30. Red R8+3 (check, the only legal reply)
30. Black K4+1
31. Red R8-6
31. Black K4-1
32. Red R8=4 (captures the Soldier)
32. Black P4+1
33. Red R4=6 (check, the only legal reply)
33. Black K4=5
34. Red R6-3 (captures the Soldier)
34. Black P3+1
35. Red R6+8
35. Black P3=4
36. Red P5=4 (captures the Advisor)
36. Black P4+1
37. Red R6-8 (captures the Soldier)
37. Black K5+1
38. Red R6+9
38. Black P5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
39. Red K4+1
39. Black P5=4
40. Red P4+1 (check, the only legal reply)
40. Black K5+1
41. Red R6-9 (captures the Soldier, checkmate)

Final position

Red wins after 41 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Attending the Feast With a Single Blade"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2+7 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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