Jiao Zan Raids the Camp

"Jiao Zan Raids the Camp" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 12 moves; the key first move is R9=2. 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, a Chariot, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R9=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black +P=6 (check, threatens mate next move)
1. Black +P=6
2. Red K4+1 (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 P7=6 (check, the only legal reply)
2. Black P7=6
3. Red K4-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black A5-6
3. Black A5-6
4. Red R2+3 (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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black A4-5
4. Black A4-5
5. Red P4+1 (captures the Advisor, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
5. Black K5=4
5. Black K5=4
6. Red P3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P5+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black P5+1
7. Red +P=5 (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.
7. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K4+1
8. Red R2-8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black E5+7
8. Black E5+7
9. Red P8=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P5=6 (check)
9. Black P5=6
10. Red R2=4 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
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 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P6+1 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move)
10. Black P6+1
11. Red K4+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black A5+6
11. Black A5+6
12. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Red K4+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 +P=6
- 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 +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=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black P7=6
- 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
3. Black A5-6
- 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=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black A4-5
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K5=4
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black P5+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 P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black E5+7
- 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 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
9. Black P5=6
- 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 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 P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P6+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 P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black A5+6
- 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 E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-6 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 "Jiao Zan Raids the Camp"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R9=2 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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