Great Battle at Poyang

"Great Battle at Poyang" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 14 moves; the key first move is R5=4. 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, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5=4 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black A5+6 (captures the Chariot)
1. Black A5+6
2. Red R4-4 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P5=6
2. Black P5=6
3. Red R4=1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black E7-9
3. Black E7-9
4. Red R1+5 (captures the Elephant)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R5=7
4. Black R5=7
5. Red R1+2 (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.
5. Black K6+1
5. Black K6+1
6. Red R1-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P4=5 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black P4=5
7. Red P2=3 (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.
7. Black R7-7 (captures the Soldier)
7. Black R7-7
8. Red R1=3 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black K6-1
8. Black K6-1
9. Red P6=5 (sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
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.
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black A6-5 (captures the Soldier)
9. Black A6-5
10. Red R3+1 (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.
10. Black K6+1
10. Black K6+1
11. Red R3-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black A5+6
11. Black A5+6
12. Red R3=4 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P3=4
12. Black P3=4
13. Red R4+4 (captures the Advisor, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
13. Black K6=5
13. Black K6=5
14. Red R4=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black E3+5
14. Black E3+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 A5+6
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black P5=6
- 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 P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
3. Black E7-9
- 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 P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
4. Black R5=7
- 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 P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=6 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
5. Black K6+1
- If Black plays R7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black P4=5
- 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 P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R7-7
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+1. Try it on the board
9. Black A6-5
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. 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 R3=4. Try it on the board
11. Black A5+6
- 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 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
12. Black P3=4
- 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 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 K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black E3+5
- If Black plays P4+1 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 K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+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 "Great Battle at Poyang"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R5=4 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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