No. 80: Soldiers Scattered Like Stars

"No. 80: Soldiers Scattered Like Stars" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 22 moves; the key first move is P4+1. 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, a Chariot, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P4+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
1. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black K5-1
2. Red P4+1 (check)
2. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5-1
3. Red R3=5 (check)
3. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K5=4
4. Red R5+3 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
4. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K4+1
5. Red R5=8 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black A4-5
5. Black A4-5
6. Red R8-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black -P=6 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black -P=6
7. Red R8=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black A5+4
8. Red C3=6 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black A4-5
9. Red C6-2 (captures the Soldier, check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
9. Black A5+4 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black A5+4
10. Red R6=4 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. Black A4-5
10. Black A4-5
11. Red R4-1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P4+1 (threatens mate next move)
11. Black P4+1
12. Red C6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black K4+1
12. Black K4+1
13. Red R4+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black K4=5
13. Black K4=5
14. Red R4=5 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
14. Black K5=4
14. Black K5=4
15. Red R5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Black K4=5
15. Black K4=5
16. Red R6-4 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black A5+4
16. Black A5+4
17. Red R6+4 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black A4-5
17. Black A4-5
18. Red C5+6 (captures the Advisor, sacrifices the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black A6+5 (captures the Cannon)
18. Black A6+5
19. Red R6=5 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
19. Black K5=4
19. Black K5=4
20. Red R5-3 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black A5+6
20. Black A5+6
21. Red K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
21. Black K4-1
21. Black K4-1
22. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
22. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 6 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 6: K4+1 7. R8=6+ K4=5 8. R6=5+ K5=4 9. C3=5 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 5: -P=6 6. R8-1+ Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 5: 5. C3+4+ A4-5 6. P4=5+ K4+1 7. R5=8 K4=5 8. P5=4 +P+1+ 9. K4=5 P5+1+ 10. K5=4 P5+1+ 11. K4+1 +P=5+ 12. K4+1 P4=5# Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 4: K4=5 5. C3+5+ A6+5 6. P4+1# Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 3: A6+5 4. P4+1+ K5=4 5. C3=6# Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 2: K5=4 3. C3=6+ A4-5 4. R3=6+ A5+4 5. P4=5+ K4=5 6. R6=5# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 22 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 80: Soldiers Scattered Like Stars"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).

How many moves does the solution take?

22 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move P4+1 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.

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