Massing Troops in the Western Regions

"Massing Troops in the Western Regions" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 20 moves; the key first move is R4+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 Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R4+1 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black +R=6 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
1. Black +R=6
2. Red R4-5 (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.
2. Black +P+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
2. Black +P+1
3. Red K4=5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R2+9 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black R2+9
4. Red R2=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black E5+3 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black E5+3
5. Red R4=5 (check, 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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K5=6
6. Red R7+1 (captures the Elephant, 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.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K6+1
7. Red R7-4 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
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.
7. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
7. Black P5+1
8. Red R5-2 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
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.
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
8. Black P4=5
9. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R2-1 (check)
9. Black R2-1
10. Red K5-1 (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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R2=6
10. Black R2=6
11. Red P1+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P8+1
11. Black P8+1
12. Red P1+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 P8+1
12. Black P8+1
13. Red P1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P8=7
13. Black P8=7
14. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black R6-2
14. Black R6-2
15. Red R7=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black R6+3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
15. Black R6+3
16. Red K5+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 P7=6 (check)
16. Black P7=6
17. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black R6=3 (captures the Elephant)
17. Black R6=3
18. Red P3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black R3-1 (check)
18. Black R3-1
19. 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.
19. Black R3=5
19. Black R3=5
20. Red R5-4 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black P6=5 (captures the Chariot)
20. Black P6=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 +R=6
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. 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 +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+1. Try it on the board
2. Black +P+1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. 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 -P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
3. Black R2+9
- 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 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
4. Black E5+3
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
5. Black K5=6
- If Black plays +E-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -E+5 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
7. Black P5+1
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
8. Black P4=5
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
9. Black R2-1
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R2=6
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
11. Black P8+1
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. 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: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
12. Black P8+1
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. 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: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
13. Black P8=7
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. 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: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
14. Black R6-2
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black R6+3
- 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 R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
16. Black P7=6
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. 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: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
17. Black R6=3
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
18. Black R3-1
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
19. Black R3=5
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
20. Black P6=5
- 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 K6-1 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Massing Troops in the Western Regions"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R4+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: Panning Gold From Sand Next puzzle: Marching With Fewer Stoves →

Nearby puzzles

Moon Hidden at the Sea Bottom
7 moves
Roving Soldiers Sue for Peace
20 moves
Panning Gold From Sand
18 moves
Marching With Fewer Stoves
10 moves
Earthworm Subdues the Dragon
18 moves
Fallen Blossoms on Flowing Water
19 moves