Opening the Window to Invite the Moon

"Opening the Window to Invite the Moon" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 14 moves; the key first move is R1=6. 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, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R1=6 (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
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
1. Black C7=4 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black C7=4
2. Red R6-3 (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 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black C2+3 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
2. Black C2+3
3. Red R6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
3. Black P5+1 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black P5+1
4. Red C1-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black P6=5 (check, the only legal reply)
4. Black P6=5
5. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black -P=6 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black -P=6
6. Red C3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P6+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
6. Black P6+1
7. Red C4-8 (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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P5=6 (captures the Cannon, check)
7. Black P5=6
8. Red K4+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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C2=4 (captures the Chariot)
8. Black C2=4
9. Red C1+6 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
9. Black E5-3
9. Black E5-3
10. Red C1+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P7+1
10. Black P7+1
11. Red E7+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black +C-3
11. Black +C-3
12. Red P4=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black E3+5
12. Black E3+5
13. Red P5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black +C=6
13. Black +C=6
14. Red C1=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Red C1=3

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 C7=4
- If Black plays R4-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black C2+3
- 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 R6+4. 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 C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+4. Try it on the board
3. Black P5+1
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
4. Black P6=5
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
5. Black -P=6
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
6. Black P6+1
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
7. Black P5=6
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
8. Black C2=4
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+5. Try it on the board
9. Black E5-3
- 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
10. Black P7+1
- If Black plays +C=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black +C-3
- If Black plays +C=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black E3+5
- If Black plays +C=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black +C=6
- If Black plays +C=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +C=2 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 "Opening the Window to Invite the Moon"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R1=6 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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