A Pearl Lies in the Deep

"A Pearl Lies in the Deep" 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 -R=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, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red -R=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black R6-2 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R6-2
2. Red H4+5 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 41 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R4=9
2. Black R4=9
3. Red C1=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R6+1 (captures the Cannon)
3. Black R6+1
4. Red R1-3 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R6=5 (captures the Horse, check)
4. Black R6=5
5. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R5=6
5. Black R5=6
6. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black E5+7 (check, threatens mate next move)
6. Black E5+7
7. Red P5+1 (captures the Cannon, 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 Cannon.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black K6+1
7. Black K6+1
8. Red R1+7 (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.
8. Black K6+1
8. Black K6+1
9. Red R1=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P2=3
9. Black P2=3
10. Red P5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R6+1
10. Black R6+1
11. Red R5-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black E3+5
11. Black E3+5
12. Red R5=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black K6-1
12. Black K6-1
13. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R6=4 (threatens mate next move)
13. Black R6=4
14. Red R8=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.
14. Black K6=5
14. Black K6=5
15. Red K5=4 (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 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black E5-7 (captures the Soldier)
15. Black E5-7

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 R6-2
- If Black plays H5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
2. Black R4=9
- 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 R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black R6+1
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
4. Black R6=5
- 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black R5=6
- 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 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
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E5+7
- 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P2=3
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R6+1
- 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black E3+5
- 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 R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black K6-1
- 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 R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R8=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black R6=4
- 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black E5-7
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+3. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "A Pearl Lies in the Deep"?

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 -R=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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