Five Tigers Descend to Sichuan

"Five Tigers Descend to Sichuan" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 39 moves; the key first move is +P+1. 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, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +P+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)
1. Black E5-7 (captures the Soldier)
2. Red P2=3 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)
2. Black K6+1
3. Red +R+4 (check, the only legal reply)
3. Black K6+1
4. Red +R-1 (check)
4. Black K6-1
5. Red +R+1 (check, the only legal reply)
5. Black K6+1
6. Red -R+4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
6. Black E7-9 (captures the Chariot)
7. Red R1-1 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)
7. Black K6-1
8. Red R1+1 (check, the only legal reply)
8. Black K6+1
9. Red -P+1 (check, the only legal reply)
9. Black K6=5
10. Red C1+5 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
10. Black R6-6
11. Red C1=4 (captures the Chariot)
11. Black K5=4
12. Red P6=5
12. Black H5-7
13. Red R1-3
13. Black R5+1 (captures the Soldier)
14. Red R1=6 (check, the only legal reply)
14. Black K4=5
15. Red R6-4 (captures the Soldier)
15. Black R5=8
16. Red R6+4
16. Black R8+3
17. Red R6+4
17. Black K5-1
18. Red +P=4
18. Black H7-6
19. Red C4=7
19. Black R8+5 (check, the only legal reply)
20. Red K5+1
20. Black R8-3
21. Red P3=4
21. Black +P=2
22. Red R6-4
22. Black H6+8
23. Red R6-3
23. Black H8-6
24. Red R6=4
24. Black H6-4
25. Red -P+1 (check)
25. Black K5=4
26. Red R4+4
26. Black R8+2 (check)
27. Red K5-1
27. Black R8+1 (check)
28. Red K5+1
28. Black R8=4
29. Red R4=5
29. Black R4-4
30. Red C7=3
30. Black K4+1
31. Red R5=4
31. Black K4-1
32. Red C3-1
32. Black P2=3
33. Red C3=6 (captures the Horse)
33. Black R4+3 (check, the only legal reply)
34. Red K5-1
34. Black P5+1
35. Red R4=5
35. Black P5+1 (check)
36. Red R5-5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)
36. Black R4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
37. Red K5+1 (captures the Chariot)
37. Black -P+1
38. Red E7+9
38. Black P1+1
39. Red C6-6

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Five Tigers Descend to Sichuan"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move +P+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: Low Horse Sorties Six Times Next puzzle: Two Dragons Play With a Pearl →

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