Unbeaten in a Hundred Battles

"Unbeaten in a Hundred Battles" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 26 moves; the key first move is H5+4. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →

Free, in the browser, no download.

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red H5+4 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
1. Black K4=5
1. Black K4=5
2. Red H4-6 (check)
2. Black K5=4
2. Black K5=4
3. Red R4-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K4-1
3. Black K4-1
4. Red H6+4 (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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
4. Black K4-1
4. Black K4-1
5. Red H4+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K4+1
5. Black K4+1
6. Red H6+4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R7+5 (check)
6. Black R7+5
7. Red K4-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R7=5
7. Black R7=5
8. Red R4=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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black K4=5
8. Black K4=5
9. Red R9+4 (check)
9. Black K5-1
9. Black K5-1
10. Red H4-6 (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.
10. Black K5=4
10. Black K5=4
11. Red R9-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P4=3
11. Black P4=3
12. Red H6-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P3=4
12. Black P3=4
13. Red H4-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black K4=5
13. Black K4=5
14. Red R9+8 (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.
14. Black K5+1
14. Black K5+1
15. Red H6+7 (check)
15. Black K5+1
15. Black K5+1
16. Red R9=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.
16. Black K5=4
16. Black K5=4
17. 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.
17. Black K4=5
17. Black K4=5
18. Red H7-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
18. Black K5-1
18. Black K5-1
19. Red H5+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.
19. Black K5+1
19. Black K5+1
20. Red R6=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.
20. Black K5=4
20. Black K5=4
21. Red H3-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
21. Black R5=8
21. Black R5=8
22. Red R5=7 (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.
22. Black K4=5
22. Black K4=5
23. Red R7-2 (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.
23. Black K5-1
23. Black K5-1
24. Red H5+3 (check)
24. Black K5=4
24. Black K5=4
25. Red H3+4 (check)
25. Black K4=5
25. Black K4=5
26. Red R7=5 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
26. Red R7=5

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 12 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 13: R5=7 14. R9+8+ K4+1 15. R9-1+ K4+1 16. H6+4+ K4=5 17. R9-1# Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 12: R5-5 13. H4+3 R5+5 14. R9+3 K4+1 15. R9=6+ K4=5 16. H3-4+ K5-1 17. R6=8 K5=4 18. H4-6 R5=4 19. R8+5+ K4+1 20. R8-1+ K4-1 21. H6+7+ K4=5 22. R8=5# Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 14: R5=4 15. H3-5+ K4=5 16. R9=5 R4-7 17. H5+3+ K5=4 18. R5+5# Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 12: R5=4 13. H4+5 K4=5 14. H5+3 K5=4 15. H3-4 Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 13: K4+1 14. R9+7+ Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 11: K4+1 12. H6-4 K4-1 13. H4-6 K4=5 14. R9+8+ K5+1 15. H6+7+ K5+1 16. R9=5+ K5=4 17. R5=6+ K4=5 18. H7-5 Try it on the board
Variation 7, from move 12: R5=9 13. R9+6 K4-1 14. H4-6 R9+1+ 15. K4+1 R9-6 16. H6+5+ K4+1 17. H5+4+ Try it on the board
Variation 8, from move 11: R5=7 12. H6+4+ K4=5 13. R9+8+ K5+1 14. R9-1+ K5+1 15. H4+6+ K5=4 16. R9=5 Try it on the board
Variation 9, from move 9: K5+1 10. H4+6+ K5=4 11. H6-8+ K4=5 12. H8-7+ Try it on the board
Variation 10, from move 7: K4=5 8. R4=5+ K5=4 9. R5=8 K4=5 10. R8+4+ K5-1 11. H4-6+ K5=4 12. R8=5 Try it on the board
Variation 11, from move 6: R7=9 7. R4=6+ K4=5 8. R6=5+ K5=4 9. H4-5+ K4+1 10. K4+1 R9+4+ 11. K4-1 R9+1+ 12. K4+1 R9=5 13. R5=6+ K4=5 14. R6+5 Try it on the board
Variation 12, from move 11: R9=4 12. R5=4 K4=5 13. R4+3+ K5-1 14. H5+7+ K5=4 15. R4+2 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 26 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Unbeaten in a Hundred Battles"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Chariot & Horse mates.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H5+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.

← Previous puzzle: Chariots Gallop, Horses Charge Next puzzle: The Master Butcher Carves the Ox →

Nearby puzzles

Firmness Tempered with Flexibility
24 moves
Golden Spears and Iron Horses
27 moves
Chariots Gallop, Horses Charge
21 moves
The Master Butcher Carves the Ox
31 moves
Distant Water Cannot Quench Nearby Thirst
9 moves
Sitting and Waiting for Death
7 moves