A Brilliant Move Shines

A Brilliant Move Shines楚河 漢界帥卒車俥將傌

"A Brilliant Move Shines" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 23 moves; the key first move is H2+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, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H2+4 (check)
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black K4-1
    1楚河 漢界帥卒車俥將傌
    1. Black K4-1
  2. 2. Red R4=8 (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.
    2. Black K4=5
    2楚河 漢界帥卒車俥將傌
    2. Black K4=5
  3. 3. Red R8+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.
    3. Black K5+1
    3楚河 漢界帥卒車將俥傌
    3. Black K5+1
  4. 4. Red H4-3 (check)
    4. Black K5=4
    4楚河 漢界帥卒車傌將俥
    4. Black K5=4
  5. 5. Red R8-3 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    5. Black K4-1
    5楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    5. Black K4-1
  6. 6. Red R8=9
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black R5=7
    6楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    6. Black R5=7
  7. 7. Red H3+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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black K4=5
    7楚河 漢界帥卒車俥將傌
    7. Black K4=5
  8. 8. Red R9=5 (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.
    8. Black K5=4
    8楚河 漢界帥卒車俥將傌
    8. Black K5=4
  9. 9. Red H4-5 (check)
    9. Black K4+1
    9楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    9. Black K4+1
  10. 10. Red H5-7 (check)
    10. Black K4-1
    10楚河 漢界帥卒車傌俥將
    10. Black K4-1
  11. 11. 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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R7+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    11楚河 漢界帥車卒傌俥將
    11. Black R7+1
  12. 12. Red K4+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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black R7-1 (check)
    12楚河 漢界卒帥車傌俥將
    12. Black R7-1
  13. 13. Red K4+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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black R7-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    13楚河 漢界卒帥車傌俥將
    13. Black R7-1
  14. 14. Red K4-1 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black R7+1 (check)
    14楚河 漢界卒帥車傌俥將
    14. Black R7+1
  15. 15. Red K4-1 (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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black R7+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    15楚河 漢界帥車卒傌俥將
    15. Black R7+1
  16. 16. Red K4+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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black R7=2
    16楚河 漢界車卒帥傌俥將
    16. Black R7=2
  17. 17. Red H7+8 (check, sacrifices the Horse, 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 for
    • Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    17. Black R2-8 (captures the Horse)
    17楚河 漢界卒帥車俥將
    17. Black R2-8
  18. 18. Red R5=8 (captures the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    18. Black K4=5
    18楚河 漢界卒帥俥將
    18. Black K4=5
  19. 19. Red R8-7
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    19. Black P4+1
    19楚河 漢界卒俥帥將
    19. Black P4+1
  20. 20. Red K4+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    20. Black P4=3
    20楚河 漢界卒俥帥將
    20. Black P4=3
  21. 21. Red R8=5 (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.
    21. Black K5=4
    21楚河 漢界卒俥帥將
    21. Black K5=4
  22. 22. Red K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    22. Black K4+1
    22楚河 漢界卒俥帥將
    22. Black K4+1
  23. 23. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    23楚河 漢界卒俥帥將
    23. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界卒俥帥將

Red wins after 23 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "A Brilliant Move Shines"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H2+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: Horse and Chariot Before the KingNext puzzle: Brilliance on Display →

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