Dragon Churns the Pool

"Dragon Churns the Pool" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 28 moves; the key first move is C1=4. 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, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C1=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black P5=6 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black P5=6
2. Red P4+1 (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 K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
2. Black K6+1
3. Red P3=4 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
3. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K6-1
4. Red P4+1 (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.
4. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
4. Black K6+1
5. Red R3+8 (check)
5. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K6-1
6. Red R1=2 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black +P=5 (check, threatens mate next move)
6. Black +P=5
7. Red R2=5 (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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
7. Black P4=5
8. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R5=2
8. Black R5=2
9. Red P6=5 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P6+1 (check)
9. Black P6+1
10. Red K5=6 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R2=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
10. Black R2=4
11. Red P5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
11. Black R4=2
11. Black R4=2
12. Red R3-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black K6=5
12. Black K6=5
13. Red R3+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black K5=6
13. Black K5=6
14. Red R3-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black K6=5
14. Black K6=5
15. Red R3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black R2=1
15. Black R2=1
16. Red R3=5 (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.
16. Black K5=6
16. Black K5=6
17. Red R5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black R1+5 (threatens mate next move)
17. Black R1+5
18. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black R1=2
18. Black R1=2
19. Red R5=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
19. Black R2+2 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
19. Black R2+2
20. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black R2=5
20. Black R2=5
21. Red R2-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
21. Black R5+1 (check)
21. Black R5+1
22. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
22. Black R5=2
22. Black R5=2
23. Red R2+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.
23. Black K6+1
23. Black K6+1
24. Red R2-1 (check)
24. Black K6+1
24. Black K6+1
25. Red R2-1 (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.
25. Black K6-1
25. Black K6-1
26. Red R2=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
26. Black R2-7
26. Black R2-7
27. Red R5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
27. Black P6=5 (threatens mate next move)
27. Black P6=5
28. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
28. Red K6=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 P5=6
- If Black plays H8-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K6-1
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K6-1
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+6. Try it on the board
6. Black +P=5
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P4+1 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: Red mates immediately with R5=4. 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 E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5+8. Try it on the board
8. Black R5=2
- 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 E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P6+1
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. 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 E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=4. Try it on the board
10. Black R2=4
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. 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 E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=4. Try it on the board
11. Black R4=2
- 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 E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black K6=5
- 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 E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black K5=6
- 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 E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+1. Try it on the board
14. Black K6=5
- 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 E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black R2=1
- 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 E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+2. Try it on the board
17. Black R1+5
- 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 R1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
18. Black R1=2
- 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 R1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
19. Black R2+2
- 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
20. Black R2=5
- 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
21. Black R5+1
- 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 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
22. Black R5=2
- 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
- If Black plays R5=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5-2 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
24. Black K6+1
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
26. Black R2-7
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
27. Black P6=5
- 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 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 "Dragon Churns the Pool"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C1=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: Dragon and Tiger Battle Next puzzle: Three Leaps at the Dragon Gate →

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