Dilu Leaps the Stream

"Dilu Leaps the Stream" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 20 moves; the key first move is R2+4. 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, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R2+4 (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.
1. Black E5-7 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black E5-7
2. Red H4+6 (check, sacrifices the Horse, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black A5+4 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
2. Black A5+4
3. Red R2=3 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black K5+1
4. Red H3+4 (check)
4. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K5=6
5. Red H4+6 (captures the Advisor, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black E3+5 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black E3+5
6. Red R3-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
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.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K6+1
7. Red H6-5 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black H4-5 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black H4-5
8. Red H5-7 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P2=3 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black P2=3
9. Red H7-8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black H5+4
9. Black H5+4
10. Red R3-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black E5+3
10. Black E5+3
11. Red R3=5 (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.
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black H4+5 (captures the Chariot)
11. Black H4+5
12. Red E3+5 (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.
12. Black P9=8
12. Black P9=8
13. Red C8-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P8=7
13. Black P8=7
14. Red C8=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P7=6
14. Black P7=6
15. Red C9-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black K6=5
15. Black K6=5
16. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black P3=4 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
16. Black P3=4
17. Red H8-6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
17. Black K5=4
17. Black K5=4
18. Red C9=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 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black P6=5 (captures the Cannon)
18. Black P6=5
19. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
19. Black P5=4 (captures the Horse, check, the only legal reply)
19. Black P5=4
20. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Red 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 E5-7
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black A5+4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=3. Try it on the board
4. Black K5=6
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R3=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
5. Black E3+5
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3-2. Try it on the board
8. Black P2=3
- 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
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black H5+4
- 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
10. Black E5+3
- 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
11. Black H4+5
- 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
12. Black P9=8
- 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
13. Black P8=7
- 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
14. Black P7=6
- 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
15. Black K6=5
- 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=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
16. 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=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
17. Black K5=4
- 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+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 E3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
18. Black P6=5
- 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 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
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
19. Black P5=4
- 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 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
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4-1 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 "Dilu Leaps the Stream"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2+4 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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