《适情雅趣》 is an ancient xiangqi manual. The phonetic representation of the title is “shì qíng yǎ qù”。For want of better words, I translate the title into English as “Comforting Delights”.
Published in 1570 during the Ming Dynasty, it is a huge collection of Checkmate Combinations, Practical Endgames, Full Games and Popular Openings in its time. The manual is divided into 10 volumes. The first 6 volumes containing 550 games are regarded as the mandatory course for xiangqi players to sharpen their checkmate skills. These games are numbered consecutively from #001 to #550. They demonstrate many classical checkmating finesses, covering almost all patterns that could arise in real games.
Qi Tun Guan You [001] 气吞关右
Red sacrifices two Chariots and a Pawn to open an avenue for attack. The final checkmate position has a Cannon and two Horses lined up at Black’s bottom rank. Amazing pattern!
Notes:
① On the first move if Black answers with A6+5, Red wins as follows:
P6=5 A4+5, R7+9 E1-3, C9+5 E3+5,
H8+7 A6-4, R5+5 checkmate.
② On move #2, if Black K5+1, then
R7+8 K5+1, H2+4 K5=6, H8+6 K6-1,
H6-5 K6+1, H5-3 wins
Felix’s remarks
In endgame study, there is a tacit rule that “the winning side should strive to win with the least steps while the opponent should hold the game as long as possible”. Variation ② should be regarded as the main line of play.
Ma Die Yan Zhi [002] 马蹀阏氏
Discovered check is employed to relocate a piece to better attacking position.
In reply to 2.+R-1, if Black blocks with H1-2, Red wins faster as follows:
3. H6+7 K5+1 4. H7–5 H2+4 5. +R=6 K5=4
6. H5–7 K4=5 7. R8+4
Then on the 5th move, Red could also win faster with:
5. H6+7 K5+1 6. H7–5 H2+4 7. +R=6 K5=4
8. H5–7 K4=5 9. R8+4.
A closer study reveals that earlier on the 4th move, Red should have played C8-2. This will also enable Red to wins in 9 moves as shown in the GIF image below.
Fig. left
A faster winning sequence where Red plays C7-2 on 4th move.
Fig. right.
Adding a second Black Chariot as shown here will preserve the checkmate-in-20 sequence stated in the manual.
Di Yang Chu Fan [003] 羝羊触藩
The checkmate combination makes up of well-knitted elements utilising tactics such as blockage, decoying, sacrifice and discovered check.
The brave sacrifice of both Chariots is sine qua non. The first one, offered free to the enemy Horse, enables the Red Horse to join the assaulting force and thus opens the forward path for the Cannon. The second one forces the enemy Chariot to block its own Elephant, so that the Cannon may execute the coup de grace with C9+3.
Liang Jiang An Bian [004] 良将安边
In the edition annotated by Xie Xiaxun (谢侠逊） Black’s left Elephant is missing. The original moves in the ancient manual are not valid. Xavier then provided a different winning sequence and assigned a new title to the game.
The initial 9 moves are consecutive checks The four attackers coordinate excellently to drive the opponent King to a vulnerable location. Then comes the critical C5=1 that threatens C1+2 mate, while relieving the mating threat by Black’s Chariot. This is a subtle mid-game tactic that often turns the table around when one is apparently in a dangerous situation.
Huai Yin Yu Han [005] 淮阴遇汉
As you can see in the diagram, Red’s Chariot and Horse on its left wing are blocked by Black’s Elephant and Pawn. It looks difficult for them to join force with their partners on the other wing.
A brave Chariot sacrifice on the 8th move removes one of the obstacles. Subsequently, the galloping Horse under the cover of the Cannon, removes the Black Pawn and opens the path for the Chariot. The “Catapult Horse” checkmate claims the final victory.