No. 97: One Against Ten Thousand
"No. 97: One Against Ten Thousand" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is H1-3. 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 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red H1-3Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for1. Black H7-61. Black H7-6 - 2. Red R1+3Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black R9-42. Black R9-4 - 3. Red P6=5Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for3. Black K5+13. Black K5+1 - 4. Red R4+5Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black K5=64. Black K5=6 - 5. Red H3-4Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for5. Red H3-4
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 4: K5-1 5. R4=6+ K5=6 6. P5=4# Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 5 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 97: One Against Ten Thousand"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
5 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move H1-3 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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 94: Shouldering Books to Follow a Master
- No. 95: Hero's Spirit Pierces the Dipper
- No. 96: Bravely Retreating from the Rapids
- No. 98: Jiang Ziya Fishes on the Wei
- No. 99: Raiding the Enemy Camp by Night
- No. 100: Flying Steed Blazes the Path
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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