Ma Chao's Night Battle

"Ma Chao's Night Battle" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 23 moves; the key first move is R5+1. 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, a Chariot, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black C2=4
1. Black C2=4
2. Red R5=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.
2. Black C1-1
2. Black C1-1
3. Red R4+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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R1-1
3. Black R1-1
4. Red P5+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black C1=5 (captures the Soldier)
4. Black C1=5
5. Red R4=9 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P8=7
5. Black P8=7
6. Red R9-2 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black -P=8
6. Black -P=8
7. Red R9=1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P9=8
7. Black P9=8
8. Red R1+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 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black K4+1
8. Black K4+1
9. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black C4+1
9. Black C4+1
10. Red R1=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C5=4
10. Black C5=4
11. Red R5-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black +P=7
11. Black +P=7
12. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black +P=6
12. Black +P=6
13. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P7+1
13. Black P7+1
14. Red R5=2 (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.
14. Black P6=5
14. Black P6=5
15. Red R2=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black P7=6
15. Black P7=6
16. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black +C+4
16. Black +C+4
17. Red R5+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black -C=7
17. Black -C=7
18. Red R5=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black K4=5
18. Black K4=5
19. Red R3+2 (check)
19. Black K5+1
19. Black K5+1
20. Red R3+1 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black P5+1 (check)
20. Black P5+1
21. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
21. Black P6+1
21. Black P6+1
22. Red R3=5 (check)
22. Black K5=6
22. Black K5=6
23. Red R5-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
23. Red R5-7

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 C2=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 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=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P1+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
2. Black C1-1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P1+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
3. Black R1-1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P1+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=6. Try it on the board
5. Black P8=7
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 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 P1+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 C4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black -P=8
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 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
7. Black P9=8
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 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
- If Black plays C4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black K4+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
9. Black C4+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=9 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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C5=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=9 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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black +P=7
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black +P=6
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=6 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
- If Black plays +C-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P7+1
- 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 P7=6 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
14. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black P7=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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black +C+4
- If Black plays P5+1 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 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 +C-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black -C=7
- If Black plays +C-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-5 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
18. Black K4=5
- If Black plays C4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-5 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
19. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
20. Black P5+1
- If Black plays C4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
21. Black P6+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 C4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
22. Black K5=6
- If Black plays K5=4 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 "Ma Chao's Night Battle"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Hundred Game Manual.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R5+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.

← Previous puzzle: Horse Tramples the Linked Camps Next puzzle: The Hegemon Sheds His Armor →

Nearby puzzles

Mandarin Duck Cannon Pair
40 moves
High Horse Sallies Six Times
18 moves
Horse Tramples the Linked Camps
12 moves
The Hegemon Sheds His Armor
11 moves
Snow Blocks Lan Pass
21 moves
Visiting the Sage on a Snowy Night
11 moves