Marching and Deploying Troops

"Marching and Deploying Troops" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is P5=6. 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 Advisor, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P5=6 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
1. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black K4=5
2. Red P4=5 (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.
2. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5=6
3. Red R2=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black H5+6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
3. Black H5+6
4. Red C2=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black H6-8 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black H6-8
5. Red C4-2 (captures the Chariot, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black H8-6
5. Black H8-6
6. Red H7+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C6-1
6. Black C6-1
7. Red -H-6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P7=6
7. Black P7=6
8. Red H6+4 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C6+2 (captures the Cannon)
8. Black C6+2
9. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black C5-6 (captures the Soldier, check)
9. Black C5-6
10. Red P6=5 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black H6-5 (captures the Soldier)
10. Black H6-5
11. Red K5=4 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black H7-8
11. Black H7-8
12. Red A4+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black H8+6 (captures the Horse)
12. Black H8+6
13. Red A5+4 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Red A5+4

Variations and alternative defences

What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.

1. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black H6-8
- If Black plays H6+8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black H8-6
- If Black plays C6+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H8+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black C6-1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P7=6
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C6+2
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black C5-6
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black H6-5
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black H7-8
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black H8+6
- If Black plays H8-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H8-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H8-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H8+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H8+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Marching and Deploying Troops"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move P5=6 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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