Tian Dan Sweeps the Formation

"Tian Dan Sweeps the Formation" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 11 moves; the key first move is +C=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, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +C=4 (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 R6+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R6+1
2. Red C1=4 (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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R6=7 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black R6=7
3. Red R1+7 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black C4=9 (captures the Chariot)
3. Black C4=9
4. Red R3+2 (captures 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 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black P4=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
4. Black P4=5
5. Red K5=6 (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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R3=4 (captures the Soldier, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
5. Black R3=4
6. Red P5=6 (captures 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.
6. Black P6+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black P6+1
7. Red R3-6 (sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works–
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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P6=7 (captures the Chariot)
7. Black P6=7
8. Red E5-3 (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.
8. Black C9+9 (check, the General has no escape square)
8. Black C9+9
9. Red E3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P3+1 (captures the Soldier)
9. Black P3+1
10. Red E9+7 (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.
10. Black C9=5
10. Black C9=5
11. Red E1+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black K6+1
11. Black K6+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 R6+1
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
2. Black R6=7
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black C4=9
- If Black plays R7-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. 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 R3=4. 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 P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
5. Black R3=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: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
6. Black P6+1
- 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=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 K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
7. Black P6=7
- If Black plays P6=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
- 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 K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+9. Try it on the board
8. Black C9+9
- 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 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
9. Black P3+1
- 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=5 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C9=5
- 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 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
11. Black K6+1
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=9 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Tian Dan Sweeps the Formation"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move +C=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.

← Previous puzzle: Ascending the Altar to Appoint the General Next puzzle: Chariot and Horse Cut Off the Supplies →

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