Firmness Tempered with Flexibility

"Firmness Tempered with Flexibility" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 24 moves; the key first move is H7+6. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →

Free, in the browser, no download.

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red H7+6 (check)
1. Black K5=4
1. Black K5=4
2. Red H6+8 (check)
2. Black K4-1
2. Black K4-1
3. Red R4=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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K4=5
3. Black K4=5
4. Red R7+5 (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 K5+1
4. Black K5+1
5. Red H8-6 (check)
5. Black K5=4
5. Black K5=4
6. Red H6+4 (check)
6. Black K4=5
6. Black K4=5
7. Red H4+3 (check)
7. Black K5=4
7. Black K5=4
8. Red R7-6 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black K4+1
8. Black K4+1
9. Red R7=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R5-3
9. Black R5-3
10. Red R2=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R5-2
10. Black R5-2
11. Red R9=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R5+5
11. Black R5+5
12. Red R7+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.
12. Black K4-1
12. Black K4-1
13. Red H3-4 (check)
13. Black K4=5
13. Black K4=5
14. Red H4-6 (check)
14. Black K5=4
14. Black K5=4
15. Red R7-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black R5-6
15. Black R5-6
16. Red R7=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black P4=3
16. Black P4=3
17. Red K4-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black P3=2
17. Black P3=2
18. Red R6-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black R5=9
18. Black R5=9
19. Red H6+8 (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.
19. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
19. Black K4=5
20. Red R6=5 (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.
20. Black R9=5
20. Black R9=5
21. Red H8+7 (check)
21. Black K5-1
21. Black K5-1
22. Red R5+6 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
22. Black K5=4
22. Black K5=4
23. Red K4=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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
23. Black P2=3
23. Black P2=3
24. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
24. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

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

Variation 1, from move 16: R5+6 17. R6+1 P4=3 18. H6+4+ K4=5 19. R6+4+ K5+1 20. H4+2 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 15: K4+1 16. R7=6 K4=5 17. R6=4 R5-1+ 18. K4-1 P4=5+ 19. K4-1 K5=4 20. H6+8 K4=5 21. H8+7 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 11: R5=7 12. H3-5 K4-1 13. R7+5+ K4-1 14. H5-7 R7+4+ 15. K4-1 R7-5 16. R7+1+ K4+1 17. R7=6# Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 11: P4=5 12. R7+6 R5=7 13. R7=6+ K4=5 14. R6=5+ K5=4 15. K4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 12: K4-1 13. H3-4+ R5-1 14. R7-2 Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 10: R5=9 11. H3-4 K4=5 12. R9=5+ K5=4 13. H4-5+ K4-1 14. H5+7+ K4-1 15. R5+5 Try it on the board
Variation 7, from move 11: R9=6+ 12. K4=5 R6=5+ 13. K5=4 K4=5 14. R9+4+ K5-1 15. H4-6+ Try it on the board
Variation 8, from move 9: P4=3 10. R2=6+ K4=5 11. R6=7 K5=4 12. H3-5 R5=4 13. H5+7+ K4-1 14. H7-8+ K4+1 15. R7+4+ K4-1 16. R7-6+ Try it on the board
Variation 9, from move 9: R5=7 10. R2+4+ K4-1 11. H3-4+ K4=5 12. H4-6+ K5=4 13. H6+8+ K4=5 14. H8+7+ K5=4 15. R2=6# Try it on the board
Variation 10, from move 11: K4+1 12. H4-5+ K4-1 13. H5+7+ K4=5 14. R2=5# Try it on the board
Variation 11, from move 2: K4=5 3. H8+7+ Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 24 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Firmness Tempered with Flexibility"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H7+6 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: Chariot and Horse Roam Freely Next puzzle: Golden Spears and Iron Horses →