Striving Together With One Heart

"Striving Together With One Heart" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is R1+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, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R1+4 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
1. Black E5-7 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black E5-7
2. Red C7+2 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black E1-3 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
2. Black E1-3
3. 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.
3. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black A5-6
4. Red H3+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.
4. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K5+1
5. Red H4-6 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K5=4
6. Red R3-1 (check)
6. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black A4+5
7. Red R3=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
7. Black A6+5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
7. Black A6+5
8. Red H6+8 (check, sacrifices the Horse, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
8. Black C2-6 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
8. Black C2-6
9. Red A5-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Advisor stands where it can be captured.
9. Black P2=3
9. Black P2=3
10. Red R2=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C2=4 (check)
10. Black C2=4
11. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black -P=4
11. Black -P=4
12. Red R7+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.
12. Black K4-1
12. Black K4-1
13. Red R7+1 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
13. Black K4+1
13. Black K4+1
14. Red R7-7 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P7=6
14. Black P7=6
15. Red R7+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.
15. Black K4-1
15. Black K4-1
16. Red R7=5 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black P6=5
16. Black P6=5

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
5. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+2. Try it on the board
6. Black A4+5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black A6+5
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C2-6
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P2=3
- 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 P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 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 P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C2=4
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black -P=4
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black P7=6
- 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 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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black P6=5
- 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 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Striving Together With One Heart"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R1+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: Three Leaps at the Dragon Gate Next puzzle: Alarm Shakes a Hundred Li →

Nearby puzzles

Dragon and Tiger Battle
26 moves
Dragon Churns the Pool
28 moves
Three Leaps at the Dragon Gate
9 moves
Alarm Shakes a Hundred Li
11 moves
Straightening the Tablet to Secure the State
13 moves
Finally Crossing the Deadly Pass
19 moves