Joyful Pitch-Pot Game

"Joyful Pitch-Pot Game" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 11 moves; the key first move is E5+7. 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 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red E5+7 (sacrifices the Elephant)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Elephant; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R3+5 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R3+5
2. Red H6+7 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P4+1 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black P4+1
3. Red H7-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black C9=4
3. Black C9=4
4. Red C3+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.
4. Black E5-7 (captures the Cannon)
4. Black E5-7
5. Red R2=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 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
5. Black C4-5 (captures the Soldier)
5. Black C4-5
6. Red R6+1 (captures the Cannon, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black E7+9 (captures the Horse)
6. Black E7+9
7. Red E3-1 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P2=3
7. Black P2=3
8. Red R6=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 P3=4 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black P3=4
9. Red R9-8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black +P=5 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
9. Black +P=5
10. Red R9=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 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P5+1 (captures the Chariot, check)
10. Black P5+1
11. Red K4=5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Red K4=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 R3+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 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
2. Black P4+1
- 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 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
3. Black C9=4
- 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 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 P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black C4-5
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E7+9
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P2=3
- 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 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 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
8. Black P3=4
- 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 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
9. Black +P=5
- If Black plays +P=3 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 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 E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E9+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P5+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=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E9+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+6 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 "Joyful Pitch-Pot Game"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move E5+7 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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