Cờ Thế Kỳ quái (biến thể)

Precise co-ordination of the Red Horses is required to capture the Black Horse

The Black Horse has wandered too far into enemy ground. Can the two Red pieces join hands to trap it?

As in the previous game, your mission is to capture the Black Horse. It should be easier when the Chariot is assisted by a more powerful piece, but can you do it in no more than 5 moves?

This was the first fun puzzle I came across when I was a primary school boy.

You might say “What’s the big deal” on first look. But the challenge is to win in 5 moves. You really have to employ lateral thinking in this puzzle.

Your mission is not to checkmate. Move only the Horses and force the King to run clockwise around the palace perimeter. Should the Black King be able to move, at any time, to the centre or in the opposite direction, you would have failed the mission. Moreover, after a full cycle, all pieces must be back at their starting positions.

The mission is the same as in the previous game. Can it be achieved by a one-horse show? Yes, because here you have a super-horse; it can make 3 moves on every turn. I would like to impose another condition: the Black King shall not be in check throughout. You will be surprised that it is much easier, and with more options too.

Amazing Draw

On this page you will find four end games composed along the theme ‘One man against the whole army’. (Source: xiangqi syllabi for primary pupils compiled by Prof Huang ShaoLong.)
If on move 20/27 , Black plays P+=5, then after R8=6, the Chariot is able to guard the entire second rank, forcing a draw.

Black may sacrifice his two Chariots in another way, but must ensure that the opposing King is forced to the palace top corner so that his Horse can get into play with H1+3.

Black will never be able to free his clumsy Horse in the palace centre. Draw.

On the last move, Red obviously should not capture the poisonous Elephant.