Flooding the Seven Armies

"Flooding the Seven Armies" 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 R2=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, a Chariot, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R2=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
1. Black A5+6
1. Black A5+6
2. Red R4+4 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 Advisor.
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.
2. Black K6+1 (captures the Chariot)
2. Black K6+1
3. Red P3=4 (check)
3. Black K6=5
3. Black K6=5
4. Red C1=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.
4. Black R1=5
4. Black R1=5
5. Red P4=5 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black K5=6
5. Black K5=6
6. Red P5=4 (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.
6. Black K6-1
6. Black K6-1
7. Red C5=4 (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.
7. Black R5=6
7. Black R5=6
8. Red P4+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.
8. Black K6-1
8. Black K6-1
9. Red P4+1 (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.
9. Black K6=5
9. Black K6=5
10. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
10. Black R6-4 (captures the Soldier)
10. Black R6-4
11. Red C4=9 (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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black A4-5
11. Black A4-5
12. Red C9+5 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
12. Black P5+1
13. Red K6+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.
13. Black P6=5 (check)
13. Black P6=5
14. Red K6=5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black A5-4
14. Black A5-4
15. Red P6+1 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Advisor.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)
15. Black K5=4
16. Red C9+1 (check)
16. Black K4+1
16. Black K4+1
17. Red C9=4 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black P5=6
17. Black P5=6
18. Red C4-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black P2+1
18. Black P2+1
19. Red C4-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
19. Black P2+1
19. Black P2+1
20. Red E5+7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black K4+1
20. Black 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 A5+6
- If Black plays R1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K6=5
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black A4-5
- If Black plays P1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. 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: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C9+6. Try it on the board
12. Black P5+1
- If Black plays P1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. 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 P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
13. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
14. Black A5-4
- If Black plays P1=2 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 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
16. Black K4+1
- If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black P5=6
- If Black plays P1=2 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 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 K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
18. Black P2+1
- If Black plays P1=2 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 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 K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
19. Black P2+1
- If Black plays P1=2 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 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 K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
20. Black K4+1
- If Black plays P2=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 K4-1 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 "Flooding the Seven Armies"?

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 R2=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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