Yuechang Submits as a Guest

"Yuechang Submits as a Guest" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 15 moves; the key first move is R1+1. 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 Advisor, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R1+1 (check, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black H7-8 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black H7-8
2. Red R1=2 (captures the Horse, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black E9-7 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black E9-7
3. Red R2=3 (captures the Elephant, check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black R7-9 (captures the Chariot)
3. Black R7-9
4. Red R9+1 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black C2-1
4. Black C2-1
5. Red R9=8 (captures the Cannon, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black C3-2
5. Black C3-2
6. Red R8=7 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
6. Black E1-3 (captures the Chariot)
6. Black E1-3
7. Red H9+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black +P+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
7. Black +P+1
8. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black -P+1 (check)
8. Black -P+1
9. Red A4+5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Advisor; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black +P=5 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move)
9. Black +P=5
10. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P6=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
10. Black P6=5
11. Red K6=5 (captures the Soldier, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R7+7 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
11. Black R7+7
12. Red K5-1 (captures the Soldier, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black R7=4
12. Black R7=4
13. Red P6+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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.
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.
13. Black R4-7 (captures the Soldier)
13. Black R4-7
14. Red H8+6 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black K5=4 (captures the Horse)
14. Black K5=4
15. Red K5-1 (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.
15. Red K5-1

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 H7-8
- If Black plays H7-6 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 A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
2. Black E9-7
- If Black plays R7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
3. Black R7-9
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
4. Black C2-1
- If Black plays C3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
5. Black C3-2
- If Black plays E1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
6. Black E1-3
- If Black plays A5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
7. Black +P+1
- If Black plays +P=4 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=4 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 A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
8. Black -P+1
- 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+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=5 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
9. Black +P=5
- 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 +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
- If Black plays -P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P6=5
- 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 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
11. Black R7+7
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
12. Black R7=4
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black K5=4
- 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 E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+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 "Yuechang Submits as a Guest"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R1+1 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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