Pearl Hidden in the Casket

"Pearl Hidden in the Casket" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 12 moves; the key first move is R6=5. 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, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R6=5 (check)
1. Black C6=5
1. Black C6=5
2. Red P3=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 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
2. Black P5+1
3. Red R5-6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
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.
3. Black C5+7
3. Black C5+7
4. Red E1+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black -P=3
4. Black -P=3
5. Red -E+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P3=4
5. Black P3=4
6. Red R5=2 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black K5=4
6. Black K5=4
7. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black C5-8
7. Black C5-8
8. Red R2+9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P4=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
8. Black P4=5
9. Red R2=5 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
9. Black K4=5 (captures the Chariot)
9. Black K4=5
10. Red E3-5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P2=3
10. Black P2=3
11. Red P8=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P3=4
11. Black P3=4
12. Red P7=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black E3-1
12. Black E3-1

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 C6=5
- If Black plays E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P3+1. Try it on the board
2. Black P5+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. 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 P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+2. Try it on the board
3. Black C5+7
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black -P=3
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black K5=4
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+9. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+9. Try it on the board
7. Black C5-8
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
9. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P2=3
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black E3-1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Pearl Hidden in the Casket"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R6=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.

← Previous puzzle: Finally Crossing the Deadly Pass Next puzzle: Pearl Curtain Hung Upside Down →

Nearby puzzles

Alarm Shakes a Hundred Li
11 moves
Straightening the Tablet to Secure the State
13 moves
Finally Crossing the Deadly Pass
19 moves
Pearl Curtain Hung Upside Down
10 moves
Two Purple Swallows in Flight
15 moves
Riding to Recommend a Minister
11 moves