Finding the Road to the Blue Clouds

"Finding the Road to the Blue Clouds" 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 -R=6. 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, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red -R=6 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
1. Black +C=4
1. Black +C=4
2. Red R6-2 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 41 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R2+9 (check, the General has no escape square)
2. Black R2+9
3. Red -C=8 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P3=4 (captures the Chariot)
3. Black P3=4
4. Red R2=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 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black E5-7 (captures the Soldier)
4. Black E5-7
5. Red R9+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C4-1
5. Black C4-1
6. Red C2+7 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black E7+9
6. Black E7+9
7. Red C2=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P7=6 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black P7=6
8. Red C5-8 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P4=5 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
8. Black P4=5
9. Red R9=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 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P6+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
9. Black P6+1
10. Red R4-5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, 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
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P5=6 (captures the Chariot, check)
10. Black P5=6
11. Red K4+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C4+1
11. Black C4+1
12. Red C8=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Red C8=4

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 +C=4
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -C=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black R2+9
- 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
3. 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black E5-7
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black C4-1
- 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 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
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E7+9
- If Black plays E7+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P7=6
- 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 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
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. 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: 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
9. Black P6+1
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
10. Black P5=6
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
11. Black C4+1
- If Black plays E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1+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 "Finding the Road to the Blue Clouds"?

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 -R=6 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.

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