Attacking Song to Aid Zheng

"Attacking Song to Aid Zheng" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 17 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 Advisor, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 5 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 R4-3 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R4-3
2. Red A4-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Advisor stands where it can be captured.
2. Black P3=4
2. Black P3=4
3. Red R5+1 (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 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
3. Black R4+1
3. Black R4+1
4. Red R5-1 (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 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
4. Black P6=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
4. Black P6=5
5. Red K5+1 (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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P4+1 (check)
5. Black P4+1
6. Red K5-1 (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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P4+1 (check)
6. Black P4+1
7. Red K5=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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R4=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
7. Black R4=5
8. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
8. Black R5=6
9. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R6=9 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
9. Black R6=9
10. Red E5+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R9=5 (check)
10. Black R9=5
11. Red -E+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Elephant stands where it can be captured.
11. Black R5=1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
11. Black R5=1
12. Red E5-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black R1+2 (check, the only legal reply)
12. Black R1+2
13. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R1=6
13. Black R1=6
14. Red P8=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black R6-7 (captures the Soldier)
14. Black R6-7
15. Red P5=4 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black K4+1
15. Black K4+1
16. Red P4=5 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
16. Black K4=5 (captures the Soldier)
16. Black K4=5
17. Red P7=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Red P7=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 P3=4
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
3. Black R4+1
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- 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 P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
4. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- 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 P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
5. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. 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: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
6. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. 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: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
7. Black R4=5
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. 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: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
8. Black R5=6
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black R6=9
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R9=5
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black R5=1
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black R1+2
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black R1=6
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 R1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black R6-7
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black K4+1
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black K4=5
- 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 "Attacking Song to Aid Zheng"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

17 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.

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