Erlang Subdues the Demon

"Erlang Subdues the Demon" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is R1+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. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R1+3 (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 E5-7 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black E5-7
2. Red R1=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.
2. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black A5-6
3. Red R4+3 (captures the Advisor, 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 Advisor.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K5+1
4. Red R4=5 (check)
4. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K5=4
5. Red R5=6 (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.
5. Black K4=5
5. Black K4=5
6. Red R3=5 (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.
6. Black K5=6
6. Black K5=6
7. Red R6-1 (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.
7. Black K6+1
7. Black K6+1
8. Red R6-4 (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 for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R5=4 (check)
8. Black R5=4
9. Red R6-3 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P3=4
9. Black P3=4
10. Red R6+1 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P5=4 (captures the Chariot)
10. Black P5=4
11. Red R5=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.
11. Black K6=5
11. Black K6=5
12. Red R4-7 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black C1-9 (threatens mate next move)
12. Black C1-9
13. Red R4=6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black C1=5
13. Black C1=5
14. Red R6+7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black K5-1
14. Black K5-1
15. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black P6=5 (check)
15. Black P6=5
16. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black P8=7
16. Black P8=7
17. Red R6-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black P7=6
17. Black P7=6

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 E5-7
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
8. Black R5=4
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=4. Try it on the board
9. Black P3=4
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P5=4
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black C1-9
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black C1=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 P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black K5-1
- 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
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black P8=7
- 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black P7=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 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 K5=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 "Erlang Subdues the Demon"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R1+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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