Five Soldiers Capture the King

"Five Soldiers Capture the King" 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 -R=5. 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 Cannon, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red -R=5 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black P4=5
2. Red P4=5 (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.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black K5+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5+1
3. Red P6+1 (captures the Horse, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)
3. Black K5=4
4. Red R2=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
4. Black R5+1
5. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P5+1
5. Black P5+1
6. Red -P=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P5+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
6. Black P5+1
7. Red R5-3 (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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R5-1 (captures the Chariot, check)
7. Black R5-1
8. Red K6=5 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black H4-6 (check)
8. Black H4-6
9. Red C2=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black C4=1
9. Black C4=1
10. Red -P=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C1+1
10. Black C1+1
11. Red -P=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C1=6 (captures the Soldier)
11. Black C1=6
12. Red P5+1 (check)
12. Black K4+1
12. Black K4+1
13. Red P5=4 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Red P5=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 P4=5
- If Black plays R5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5-1 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
4. Black R5+1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black P5+1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black P5+1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R5-1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black H4-6
- If Black plays H4+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black C4=1
- If Black plays H6-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C1+1
- If Black plays H6-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black C1=6
- If Black plays H6-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black K4+1
- 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 "Five Soldiers Capture the King"?

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 -R=5 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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