Leap Months Complete the Year

"Leap Months Complete the Year" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 18 moves; the key first move is -R=5. 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, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red -R=5 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
1. Black C3=5 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black C3=5
2. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black K5=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5=6
3. Red R1=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K6=5
4. Red R5=6 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black C5=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
4. Black C5=4
5. Red R6+3 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black -P=4 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black -P=4
6. Red R4+4 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
6. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K5+1
7. Red R4-1 (check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
7. Black K5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
7. Black K5=6
8. Red R6-5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R5=2
8. Black R5=2
9. Red R6+6 (check)
9. Black K6+1
9. Black K6+1
10. Red C1=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R2+1
10. Black R2+1
11. Red R6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black K6-1
11. Black K6-1
12. Red R6-1 (check)
12. Black K6+1
12. Black K6+1
13. Red R6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black K6-1
13. Black K6-1
14. Red R6=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black R2=1 (captures the Elephant)
14. Black R2=1
15. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black R1+1 (threatens mate next move)
15. Black R1+1
16. Red C7-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
16. Black R1+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
16. Black R1+1
17. Red C7-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
17. Black R1=2
17. Black R1=2
18. Red R7=4 (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.
18. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
18. Black 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 C3=5
- If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K5=6
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+3. Try it on the board
3. Black K6=5
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
4. Black C5=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 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=6 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 R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black -P=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 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=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
6. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black K5=6
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+7. Try it on the board
8. Black R5=2
- 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 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
9. Black K6+1
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+7. Try it on the board
10. Black R2+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: 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
11. Black K6-1
- 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: 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=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
12. Black K6+1
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black K6-1
- 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: 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=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
14. Black R2=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: 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 R2-1 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
15. Black R1+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: 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 R1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black R1+1
- 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 R1-1 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
17. Black R1=2
- If Black plays R1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R1-1 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
- If Black plays R1-5 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 "Leap Months Complete the Year"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move -R=5 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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