Twelve Railings

"Twelve Railings" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is R2+3. 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 Chariots, a Horse. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R2+3 (check)
1. Black E9-7 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black E9-7
2. Red H1+2 (check)
2. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K6=5
3. Red R2=3 (captures the Elephant, 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.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
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.
3. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black A5-6
4. Red H2-4 (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.
4. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K5+1
5. Red R1+3 (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.
5. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K5+1
6. Red R1=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C2-7
6. Black C2-7
7. Red H4-5 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P2=3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
7. Black P2=3
8. Red R7-8 (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.
8. Black C2=6
8. Black C2=6
9. Red R7+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P5=4 (check)
9. Black P5=4
10. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C6=4
10. Black C6=4
11. Red R7=6 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
11. Black A4+5
11. Black A4+5
12. Red R3-2 (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.
12. Black A5+6
12. Black A5+6
13. Red R3=4 (captures the Advisor, checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
13. Red R3=4

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 E9-7
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K6=5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black C2-7
- 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 C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P2=3
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. 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: Red mates immediately with R3-2. 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 E7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
8. Black C2=6
- 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 E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P5=4
- 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 E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
10. Black C6=4
- If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R7-1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
11. Black A4+5
- If Black plays E7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 13 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Twelve Railings"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2+3 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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