How many moves are we allowed to solve this?
Also, I think this more appropriately belongs in the "more Puzzle" forum. We're not talking about a Chess variant as much as we're trying to solve a puzzle from one of the standard Chess's in the world.
https://www.chess.com/forum/category/more-puzzles
Isn't this chinese chess?
I probably know this, but can't figure it out
Also, I think this more appropriately belongs in the "more Puzzle" forum. We're not talking about a Chess variant as much as we're trying to solve a puzzle from one of the standard Chess's in the world.
I really like this suggestion. I will follow your advice in the next post. There are indeed great many intersections between chess and xiangqi and it's logical to include xiangqi puzzles in more puzzles.
Since I don't know the moves of the Black Kingdom, I can only move the pieces of the Red Kingdom (coded white pieces with Red characters on my own rendered board below) and let you make the moves of the Black.
And so, here is Red Kingdom's move.
(Forward Knight moves right 1 orthogonal square and then right 1 diagonal North-eastward square.)
And so, here is Red Kingdom's move.
(Forward Knight moves right 1 orthogonal square and then right 1 diagonal North-eastward square.)
Note that Black has the threat of a forced mate.
1. ... N2+3
2. C6-1 N5+7
3. K5=4 N5-4# (K5=6 N3-2#)
Thus red must start with a check. (Moving the guard will avoid mate but drops the knight (horse) and black will get at least a draw).
Btw, it really helps to learn the notation. (Wikipedia Xianqi System 2)
I realize that both red's Calvary rider (Red Kingdom's Knight piece) and the Fire Cannon (Red Kingdom's Cannon piece) are both under threat of capture. Both are needed for quick checkmate. The question is, which would should be sacrificed? The further question is, would Black Kingdom catch one or the other, or would he/she deliver that check upon Red first?
Again, manipulating my oponent's moves is no way of solving a puzzle.
The cannon here is more of a red herring. It makes black's mate threat (see above) less obvious and the puzzle can work without it. Pushing the pawn forces black's king out (double check) and red will have a beautiful mating pattern using his 2 knights.
When solving these puzzles, you should be finding the best moves for both sides by yourself. (also the suboptimal moves and how to exploit them) If black playes suboptimally he will be mated in 3 moves instead of 5 (solution given by OP).
How did Red win in a few moves ?
[FEN "2bak3N/4aP/4eN//4p/4n/1n/3CK/4A/5A"]
1. P4+1 K5=6
2. N4+2 K6=5
3. N1-3 K5=6
4. N3-5 K6=5
5. N5+7 checkmate