Gifts to Sue for Peace

"Gifts to Sue for Peace" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is P6=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, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P6=7 (sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R3-4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R3-4
2. Red H5-7 (sacrifices the Horse)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R3+3 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
2. Black R3+3
3. Red C5=7 (sacrifices the Cannon)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R3-3 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
3. Black R3-3
4. Red E5+7 (sacrifices the Elephant)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Elephant; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R3+2 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)
4. Black R3+2
5. Red C7+2 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
5. Black R3-5 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
5. Black R3-5
6. Red R2+2 (check)
6. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K6+1
7. Red P5+1 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black A4+5 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
7. Black A4+5
8. Red R2=7 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P2=3 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
8. Black P2=3
9. Red R7-9 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P8=7
9. Black P8=7
10. Red R7+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P1=2
10. Black P1=2
11. Red R7=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.
11. Black A5+6
11. Black A5+6
12. Red P1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P4+1 (check)
12. Black P4+1
13. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P7=6 (check)
13. Black P7=6
14. Red R4-1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P2+1
14. Black P2+1
15. Red P2=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.
15. Black K6-1
15. Black K6-1
16. Red R4+6 (captures the Advisor, checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Red R4+6

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.

1. Black R3-4
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black R3+3
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black R3-3
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R3+2
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black R3-5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+1. Try it on the board
6. Black K6+1
- If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black A4+5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
8. Black P2=3
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P8=7
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P1=2
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black P2+1
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 16 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Gifts to Sue for Peace"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Hundred Game Manual.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move P6=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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