No. 98: Every Step Shines

No. 98: Every Step Shines楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬俥卒相卒相傌將

"No. 98: Every Step Shines" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is R8+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, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R8+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.
    1. Black K5+1
    1楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    1. Black K5+1
  2. 2. Red H5+7 (check)
    2. Black K5=6
    2楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    2. Black K5=6
  3. 3. Red R8-4 (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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black K6-1
    3楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    3. Black K6-1
  4. 4. Red R8=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.
    4. Black K6=5
    4楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    4. Black K6=5
  5. 5. Red R4=1 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    5. Black K5=6
    5楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    5. Black K5=6
  6. 6. Red H7-5 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black K6=5
    6楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    6. Black K6=5
  7. 7. Red H5+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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black K5=4
    7楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    7. Black K5=4
  8. 8. Red R1=6 (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.
    8. Black K4=5
    8楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    8. Black K4=5
  9. 9. Red R6=4 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black K5=4
    9楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相俥傌將
    9. Black K5=4
  10. 10. Red R4+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.
    10. Black K4+1
    10楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    10. Black K4+1
  11. 11. Red H3-5 (check)
    11. Black K4=5
    11楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    11. Black K4=5
  12. 12. Red H5+7 (check)
    12. Black K5+1
    12楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    12. Black K5+1
  13. 13. Red R4=1 (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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black K5=4
    13楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    13. Black K5=4
  14. 14. Red H7-6 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black K4-1
    14楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    14. Black K4-1
  15. 15. Red R1-1 (check)
    15. Black K4+1
    15楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    15. Black K4+1
  16. 16. Red H6+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.
    16. Black K4=5
    16楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    16. Black K4=5
  17. 17. Red R1-1 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    17楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥
    17. Red R1-1

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界砲帥卒車馬卒相卒相傌將俥

Red wins after 17 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 98: Every Step Shines"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R8+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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