Attacking From Near and Far

"Attacking From Near and Far" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is +R+1. 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, 2 Chariots, a Cannon. Black has a General, 2 Chariots, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red +R+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
1. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black K5-1
2. Red +R+1 (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+1 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5+1
3. Red -R+2 (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.
3. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K5+1
4. Red -R=8 (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.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
4. Black P5=4 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black P5=4
5. Red R8-7 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R5=2 (captures the Chariot)
5. Black R5=2
6. Red R6-6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R2=5
6. Black R2=5
7. Red R6+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R5=1
7. Black R5=1
8. Red C9=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R1=2
8. Black R1=2
9. Red R6-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R2=5
9. Black R2=5
10. Red C8+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black K5-1
10. Black K5-1
11. Red C8=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black K5-1
11. Black K5-1
12. Red R6+3 (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.
12. Black K5+1
12. Black K5+1
13. Red C3=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R5=6
13. Black R5=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.

1. Black K5-1
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+1. Try it on the board
4. Black P5=4
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6-2. Try it on the board
5. Black R5=2
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black R2=5
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R5=1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black R1=2
- If Black plays R1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black R2=5
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black K5-1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black K5-1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black R5=6
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=2 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 From Near and Far"?

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

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+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.

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