99. Helpless and at a Loss

99. Helpless and at a Loss楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵傌俥象士將士象

"99. Helpless and at a Loss" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 19 moves; the key first move is H5+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, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H5+4 (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.
    1. Black K5+1
    1楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥傌將象士士象
    1. Black K5+1
  2. 2. Red H4-6 (check)
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black K5=4
    2楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥傌將象士士象
    2. Black K5=4
  3. 3. Red H6+8 (check)
    3. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥傌將象士士象
    3. Black K4+1
  4. 4. Red H8+7 (captures the Elephant, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    4. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥將傌士士象
    4. Black K4-1
  5. 5. Red R2=6 (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.
    5. Black K4=5
    5楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥將傌士士象
    5. Black K4=5
  6. 6. Red R6+4 (captures the Advisor)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black P4=3
    6楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵將傌俥士象
    6. Black P4=3
  7. 7. Red R6-4 (check)
    7. Black K5-1
    7楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥傌將士象
    7. Black K5-1
  8. 8. Red H7-6 (check)
    8. Black K5+1
    8楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥傌將士象
    8. Black K5+1
  9. 9. Red H6-4 (check)
    9. Black K5-1
    9楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵俥傌將士象
    9. Black K5-1
  10. 10. Red R6+3 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black A6+5
    10楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵傌俥士將象
    10. Black A6+5
  11. 11. Red R6=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    11. Black K5=4
    11楚河 漢界砲帥仕車卒仕相相兵傌俥將象
    11. Black K5=4
  12. 12. Red H4+6 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black P3+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
    12楚河 漢界砲卒帥仕車仕相相兵傌俥將象
    12. Black P3+1
  13. 13. Red A5-6 (sacrifices the Advisor, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Advisor; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black P3=4 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    13楚河 漢界砲卒帥仕車相相兵傌俥將象
    13. Black P3=4
  14. 14. Red K5=6 (captures the Soldier)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black R1=2
    14楚河 漢界砲帥仕車相相兵傌俥將象
    14. Black R1=2
  15. 15. Red K6=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black C1=2
    15楚河 漢界砲帥仕車相相兵傌俥將象
    15. Black C1=2
  16. 16. Red H6+4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black R2=6
    16楚河 漢界砲帥仕車相相兵俥傌將象
    16. Black R2=6
  17. 17. Red E5+3
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black C2=6 (captures the Advisor)
    17楚河 漢界帥砲車相兵相俥傌將象
    17. Black C2=6
  18. 18. Red R5+1 (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.
    18. Black K4+1
    18楚河 漢界帥砲車相兵相將傌俥象
    18. Black K4+1
  19. 19. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    19楚河 漢界帥砲車相兵相將傌俥象
    19. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 11 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥砲車相兵相將傌俥象

Red wins after 19 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "99. Helpless and at a Loss"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Chariot & Horse mates.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H5+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. 98: Every Step ShinesNext puzzle: Chariot and Horse Collection No. 100: Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao →

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