Puzzle of the day

Puzzle of the day 

The xiangqi puzzle below is from Jim Png's new eBook - Becoming a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1. With Jim's permission, I would like to share with you some of the interesting puzzle. Please try your best to solve the puzzle. You can compare your solution with the answer placed at the bottom of the page.

If you would like to learn more about this eBook or challenge yourself for more xiangqi puzzles, just visit www.xqinenglish.com.

Enjoy and have fun!

Answer:

The explanation below are taken from eBook: Becoming a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1, written by Jim Png.

This endgame composition originated from "Extremely Brilliant Xiangqi Manual".

It would be a checkmate if Black went first with R1+3.

  1. C3=9  ……

Red counters a kill (Black's R1+3) with this move, and threatens to kill with C1+2 on the next move. R8=4 as the first move would be a mistake.

  1a. R8=4  A5+6  2a. R4+3  K6=5  3a. R4=5  K5=6  4a. E5-7  P6+1

  5a. K5+1  R1+2  6a. K5+1  H8-7  7a. K5=6  R1-3.  And Black would be on the winning end!

  1. ……  R1=3  2. C9+2  ……

Red delivers a check with this move, forcing the Black chariot back to resolve it. Once the Black chariot is out of the picture, Red would be able to concentrate on utilizing his own chariot and pawn.

  2. ……  R3-6  3. R8=2  K6=5  4. E5+7  ……

The main motive for this move would be allow the Red king to command control of the central file.

P3=4 would also be feasible, but the kill would take one move longer.

  4b. P3=4  P6+1  5b. K5+1  A5-6  6b. R2=5  A6+5  7b. R5+4.  Checkmate.

  4. ……  P6+1  5. K5+1  R3=1  6. R2+5.  Checkmate.

eBook: Becoming A Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1

Becoming A Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1

Start your journey on becoming a Xiangqi Assassin!

A new eBook written by Jim Png, webmaster of www.xqinenglish.com, already published and available at Amazon.com worldwide. A good foundation eBook for Xiangqi Lovers.
You can visit http://www.xqinenglish.com/publications.html for more information.

The character of “自”- Since - Game #3

The character of “自”- Since - Game #3

Game #3

In Game #3, Red would demonstrate a third attacking strategy: attacking from the center. Red's chariot would block the Black elephant’s eye in order for the Red horse to trade with the Black cannon. Later, Red would advance his cannon to initiate a series of attack.

Puzzle of the day - an actual game from 2008 National A League Championships Matchup

Puzzle of the day - an actual game

The xiangqi puzzle below is from Jim Png's new eBook - Becoming a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1. With Jim's permission, I would like to share with you some of the interesting puzzle. Please try your best to solve the puzzle. You can compare your solution with the answer placed at the bottom of the page.

If you would like to learn more about this eBook or challenge yourself for more xiangqi puzzles, just visit www.xqinenglish.com.

Enjoy and have fun!

Red: GM Wan Chunlin from Shanghai.

Black: Master Xu Bo from Anhui.

Red's turn.

Event: 2008 National A League Championships Matchup.

Answer:

The explanation below are taken from eBook: Becoming a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1, written by Jim Png.

Red: GM Wan Chunlin from Shanghai.

Black: Master Xu Bo from Anhui.

Red's turn.

Event: 2008 National A League Championships Matchup.

Some moves were added as Black resigned.  

  1. R8=6  K4=5  2. R6+3!  K5=6  3. P4=3  R5=7  4. R6=4  K6=5

  5. R4=5  K5=6

K5=4 would not save the day for Black.

  5a. ........  K5=4  6a. E5+3  K4-1  7a. P3=4  R7=6  8a. P4=5  K4+1  9a. R5=6  Checkmate.

  6. E5+3  ……

And Red would win with R5=4 on the next move!

  6. ……  P8+1  7. R5=4.  Checkmate.

Puzzle of the day - from Dreams of Divine Positions

The xiangqi puzzle below is from Jim Png's new eBook - Becoming a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1. With Jim's permission, I would like to share with you some of the interesting puzzle. Please try your best to solve the puzzle. You can compare your solution with the answer placed at the bottom of the page.

If you would like to learn more about this eBook or challenge yourself for more xiangqi puzzles, just visit www.xqinenglish.com.

Enjoy and have fun!

Red would be the first to move.

Answer:

The explanation below are taken from eBook: Becoming a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Assassin Volume 1, written by Jim Png.

This position was also found in the ancient manual, "Dreams of Divine Positions".

As in other endgame compositions, Black is one move away from a checkmate with R1+7. Red's pieces seem scattered and it would seem that Red would have many choices to start his attack. So...how should Red attack?

  1. P6+1  ……

Correct move. C2=5 and R2=9 would result in defeat for Red.

Variation A: C2=5

  1a. C2=5  A5+6  2a. P6+1  ……

If Red tried to attack with P6=5, 2ai. P6=5  K5+1  3ai. +R+1  K5+1 …  

Black would be on the winning end as the Black king would now be safe on the cannon rank.

  2a. ……  K5+1  3a. +R+1  K5+1  And Black's king would be safe and it would be Black's turn to win the game.

Variation B: R2=9

Red had tried to negate Black's checkmate threat by capturing the menacing chariot, while at the same time be threatening with a checkmate C2+3.

However, this would demonstrate an inability to appreciate a potential kill by Black.

  1b. ……  P5=4  2b. R6=5  R9=5  3b. R5=4  H9+7  Checkmate. Black would win with the horse.

  1. ……  A5-4  2. +R=5  ……

Another brilliant sacrifice by Red! This would be the key of this puzzle.

Black cannot move either advisor, or there would be a smothered checkmate with the relevant cannon. The Black king would now be unable to move to the cannon rank as it would be occupied by the Black chariot.

  2. ……  R1=5  3. C2+3  ……

The order of playing Red's third and fourth ply may be changed. If Black responded with K5+1, Red would simply mate with R2+8.

  3. ……  A6+5  4. C7+3 Checkmate.