Five Forts Form an Alliance

"Five Forts Form an Alliance" 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 +C=6. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →

Free, in the browser, no download.

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Cannon, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +C=6 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R4+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R4+1
2. Red C1=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R4=5 (check, the General has no escape square)
2. Black R4=5
3. Red A6+5 (sacrifices the Advisor, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Advisor; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P4=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
3. Black P4=5
4. Red A4+5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Advisor, 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
Gives up the Advisor; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black +P=5 (captures the Advisor, check)
4. Black +P=5
5. Red R1=5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, 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
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R5+4 (captures the Chariot, check)
5. Black R5+4
6. Red R5-7 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C2=5 (captures the Chariot)
6. Black C2=5
7. Red K5+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black +P=4 (check)
7. Black +P=4
8. Red K5=6 (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.
8. Black P6=5
8. Black P6=5
9. Red P7=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.
9. Black K4=5
9. Black K4=5
10. Red C6=1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P3=4
10. Black P3=4
11. Red C1-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
11. Black P5+1
12. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P4+1 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black P4+1
13. Red P6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black K5=6
13. Black K5=6
14. Red C1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P5=4 (check, the only legal reply)
14. Black P5=4
15. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black -P=5 (threatens mate next move)
15. Black -P=5
16. Red P5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black K6=5
16. Black K6=5
17. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Red P4=5

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 R4+1
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
2. Black R4=5
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+6. Try it on the board
3. Black P4=5
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black +P=5
- If Black plays C2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
5. Black R5+4
- If Black plays C2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
6. Black C2=5
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black +P=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=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 P7=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 -P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
8. 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: 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
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 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=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black P5+1
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 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 K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black K5=6
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
14. Black P5=4
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black -P=5
- If Black plays +P+1 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 +P=3 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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black K6=5
- 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Five Forts Form an Alliance"?

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 +C=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: Five Generals Lose Their Way Next puzzle: Five Strongmen Carve the Road →