97. Sword Aura Sweeping Everywhere

97. Sword Aura Sweeping Everywhere楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌將俥士士象

"97. Sword Aura Sweeping Everywhere" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 22 moves; the key first move is H8-7. 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, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H8-7 (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 K4=5
    1楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌將俥士士象
    1. Black K4=5
  2. 2. Red R8-1 (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.
    2. Black A5+4
    2楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌俥士將士象
    2. Black A5+4
  3. 3. Red H7+6 (captures the Advisor, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black K5-1
    3楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥傌將士象
    3. Black K5-1
  4. 4. Red H6-4 (check)
    4. Black K5=6
    4楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌俥將士象
    4. Black K5=6
  5. 5. Red R8=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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    5. Black C7=8
    5楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌俥將士象
    5. Black C7=8
  6. 6. Red R5-3
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black C8=7
    6楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相俥兵傌將士象
    6. Black C8=7
  7. 7. Red H4+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.
    7. Black K6+1
    7楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相俥兵傌將士象
    7. Black K6+1
  8. 8. Red R5=2 (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 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black K6=5
    8楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相俥兵傌將士象
    8. Black K6=5
  9. 9. Red R2+3 (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.
    9. Black K5-1
    9楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌俥將士象
    9. Black K5-1
  10. 10. Red R2+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.
    10. Black K5+1
    10楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌將俥士象
    10. Black K5+1
  11. 11. Red H6+7 (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.
    11. Black K5=6
    11楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵將俥傌士象
    11. Black K5=6
  12. 12. Red R2-1 (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.
    12. Black K6-1
    12楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥將傌士象
    12. Black K6-1
  13. 13. Red R2-2 (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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black A6+5
    13楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥士將傌象
    13. Black A6+5
  14. 14. Red R2=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.
    14. Black A5+6
    14楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥士將傌象
    14. Black A5+6
  15. 15. Red R4=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black A6-5
    15楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥士將傌象
    15. Black A6-5
  16. 16. Red R5+3 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    16. Black K6-1
    16楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥傌將象
    16. Black K6-1
  17. 17. 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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black E7+5
    17楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌象俥將
    17. Black E7+5
  18. 18. Red R5-1 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    • 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.
    18. Black K6+1
    18楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵傌俥將
    18. Black K6+1
  19. 19. Red R5-1 (check)
    19. Black K6+1
    19楚河 漢界馬帥砲車馬卒卒相卒兵相兵俥傌將
    19. Black K6+1
  20. 20. Red R5+2 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    20. Black R5-1 (captures the Elephant)
    20楚河 漢界馬帥砲馬卒卒車卒兵相兵傌將俥
    20. Black R5-1
  21. 21. Red E7-5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Elephant stands where it can be captured.
    21. Black H5-3
    21楚河 漢界帥砲馬馬卒卒相卒兵兵傌將俥
    21. Black H5-3
  22. 22. Red H6-5 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    22楚河 漢界帥砲馬馬卒卒相卒兵兵傌將俥
    22. Red H6-5

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 3 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥砲馬馬卒卒相卒兵兵傌將俥

Red wins after 22 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "97. Sword Aura Sweeping Everywhere"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H8-7 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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