Cut Off From the Mortal World

"Cut Off From the Mortal World" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is C2-7. 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, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C2-7 (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 41 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black E7+9 (captures the Horse)
1. Black E7+9
2. Red E7-9 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black C5-2
2. Black C5-2
3. Red R3=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black E9-7
3. Black E9-7
4. Red R5+1 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
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.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
4. Black R2+9 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
4. Black R2+9
5. Red C2=8 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black E7+5 (captures the Chariot)
5. Black E7+5
6. Red C8+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P4=5 (check, the only legal reply)
6. Black P4=5
7. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P6+1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black P6+1
8. Red C8-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P6=5 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
8. Black P6=5
9. Red C8=5 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black C5+3 (captures the Cannon)
9. Black C5+3
10. Red E3-5 (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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C5-2 (captures the Elephant)
10. Black C5-2
11. Red P6+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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 Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
11. Black A5-4 (captures the Soldier)
11. Black A5-4
12. Red C3=5 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black A6+5
12. Black A6+5
13. Red C5-2 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Red C5-2

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 E7+9
- If Black plays P4+1 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 C5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-2 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+3. Try it on the board
2. Black C5-2
- 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 C5-1 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 C5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black E9-7
- 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
4. Black R2+9
- 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: Red mates immediately with C3+6. 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: Red mates immediately with C3+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black E7+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: Red mates immediately with C3+6. 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: Red mates immediately with C3+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. 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 C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P6+1
- If Black plays P5+1 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 P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=6 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
8. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P6=7 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 C5=6 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
9. Black C5+3
- 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 C5=6 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
10. Black C5-2
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=9 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
12. Black A6+5
- 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
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A4+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 "Cut Off From the Mortal World"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C2-7 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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