No. 8: Pearl Hidden in the Casket
"No. 8: Pearl Hidden in the Casket" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 9 moves; the key first move is R3=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, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R3=5Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for1. Black K6+11. Black K6+1 - 2. Red R5=4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black A5-62. Black A5-6 - 3. Red R6-1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for3. Black E3+53. Black E3+5 - 4. Red R6=5Why 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.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black K6=54. Black K6=5 - 5. Red P5+15. Black K5-1
5. Black K5-1 - 6. Red P5+1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for6. Black K5=46. Black K5=4 - 7. Red P5=6Why 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.
7. Black K4+17. Black K4+1 - 8. Red P7+1Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for8. Black K4-18. Black K4-1 - 9. Red P7=6Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for9. Red P7=6
Variations and alternative defences
The source manual records 3 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.
- Variation 1, from move 1: H8-7 2. H7+5+ K6+1 3. H5-3+ K6-1 4. H3+2+ K6+1 5. -H+3+ K6-1 6. H3-2+ K6+1 7. -H-3+ K6=5 8. P5+1# Try it on the board
- Variation 2, from move 6: 6. H3-5+ K6+1 7. H5-6# Try it on the board
- Variation 3, from move 5: 5. R5=4+ A5-6 6. -H+3+ K6=5 7. P5+1# Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 9 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 8: Pearl Hidden in the Casket"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
9 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R3=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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 5: Han Xin Meets the Han Lord
- No. 6: Fly Rides the Steed's Tail
- No. 7: Spring Thunder Wakes the Insects
- No. 9: Sacred Tortoise Rises from the Luo River
- No. 10: Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water
- No. 11: Rats Fight for the Hole
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
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