4. Sacrifice Tactics 113

"4. Sacrifice Tactics 113" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) tactic from the collection Sacrifice. Red moves first and wins in 2 moves; the key first move is P5+1. 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 Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
1. Black H2-4
1. Black H2-4
2. 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 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Red H3+4

Variations and alternative defences

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

Variation 1, from move 1: C5+7 2. H3+4 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 1: E3+5 2. H3+4 Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "4. Sacrifice Tactics 113"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Sacrifice.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move P5+1 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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