Blocking the Might at Xiling

"Blocking the Might at Xiling" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is H6+7. 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 Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H6+7 (check, sacrifices the Horse, 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 Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black R7=3 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R7=3
2. Red R8=5 (captures the Elephant, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black A6+5
3. Red C2=7 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P1=2
3. Black P1=2
4. Red R5=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
4. Black R1=3
4. Black R1=3
5. Red R9=2 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P7=6 (check)
5. Black P7=6
6. Red K5=4 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R3+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
6. Black R3+1
7. Red R2+2 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black A5-6
8. Red R2=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.
8. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black K5+1
9. Red R4-1 (check)
9. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
9. Black K5-1
10. Red R4=7 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P2=3
10. Black P2=3
11. Red R7-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P3=4
11. Black P3=4
12. Red R7=5 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
12. Black A4+5
12. Black A4+5
13. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P8+1 (threatens mate next move)
13. Black P8+1
14. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P4=5 (threatens mate next move)
14. Black P4=5
15. Red R5-2 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black P8=7 (check)
15. Black P8=7
16. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black C9=5 (captures the Chariot)
16. Black C9=5
17. Red K4=5 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black P9+1
17. Black P9+1

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 R7=3
- If Black plays R7=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black A6+5
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A4+5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+1. Try it on the board
3. Black P1=2
- 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 P1+1 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 C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R1=3
- 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 P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
6. Black R3+1
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 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 C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black K5-1
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P2=3
- If Black plays P2+1 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 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 C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. 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 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 C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P8+1
- 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 P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P8=9 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 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 C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black P8=7
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black C9=5
- 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 C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black P9+1
- 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 K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 "Blocking the Might at Xiling"?

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

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 H6+7 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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