Pacifying the Vassals for the Realm

"Pacifying the Vassals for the Realm" 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 +R=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 Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +R=6 (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.
1. Black R4-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R4-4
2. Red E5-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black -P=5
2. Black -P=5
3. Red R5-2 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R4=8 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black R4=8
4. Red P8=7 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black E5-3 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
4. Black E5-3
5. Red P5=6 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
5. Black K4+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
5. Black K4+1
6. Red R5+6 (check)
6. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K4+1
7. Red E7+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R8+4
7. Black R8+4
8. Red E5+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P3=2
8. Black P3=2
9. Red H9+8 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P1=2 (captures the Horse)
9. Black P1=2
10. Red R5-2 (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 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P6=5 (check)
10. Black P6=5
11. Red R5-5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R8=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
11. Black R8=5
12. Red K5+1 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black -P=3
12. Black -P=3
13. Red C8=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Red C8=6

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.

2. Black -P=5
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black R4=8
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R8+4
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black P3=2
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P1=2
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
11. Black R8=5
- If Black plays R8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R8-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
12. Black -P=3
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4-1 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 "Pacifying the Vassals for the Realm"?

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 +R=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.

← Previous puzzle: Digging a Channel to Draw Water Next puzzle: Shuttling Through the Moon →

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