Catching the Hare in the Moon

"Catching the Hare in the Moon" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 26 moves; the key first move is R6=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, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black K5+1 (captures the Chariot)
1. Black K5+1
2. Red R2+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.
2. Black K5-1
2. Black K5-1
3. Red H2+3 (check)
3. Black K5+1
3. Black K5+1
4. Red H3-5 (captures the Elephant, check, sacrifices the Horse, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
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.
4. Black K5+1 (captures the Horse)
4. Black K5+1
5. Red P6=5 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black K5=4
5. Black K5=4
6. Red +P=6 (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 K4=5
6. Black K4=5
7. Red R2-3 (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 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R5+1 (check)
7. Black R5+1
8. Red K4=5 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R3=5 (captures the Elephant, check)
8. Black R3=5
9. 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 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R5-1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
9. Black R5-1
10. Red P6+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.
10. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)
10. Black K5=4
11. Red R2=1 (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.
11. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
11. Black K4=5
12. Red R1=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black C1=8
12. Black C1=8
13. Red R4+2 (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.
13. Black K5-1
13. Black K5-1
14. Red R4+1 (check)
14. Black K5+1
14. Black K5+1
15. Red R4+1 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black K5-1
15. Black K5-1
16. Red R4-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black R5-1
16. Black R5-1
17. Red C3=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black C8+1
17. Black C8+1
18. Red E9+7 (sacrifices the Elephant)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Elephant; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black R5=3 (captures the Elephant)
18. Black R5=3
19. Red R4=5 (check)
19. Black K5=4
19. Black K5=4
20. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black R3=4
20. Black R3=4
21. Red C8+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
21. Black C8-7
21. Black C8-7
22. Red R5+6 (check)
22. Black K4-1
22. Black K4-1
23. Red R5+1 (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.
23. Black K4+1
23. Black K4+1
24. Red C8=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
24. Black C8=4
24. Black C8=4
25. Red C6-2 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
25. Black R4-3 (captures the Cannon)
25. Black R4-3
26. Red R5-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
26. Red R5-4

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 K5+1
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R5+1
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. 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: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
8. Black R3=5
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black R5-1
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=5. Try it on the board
10. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black K4=5
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black C1=8
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black K5-1
- If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black R5-1
- If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black C8+1
- If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
18. Black R5=3
- If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
19. Black K5=4
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
20. Black R3=4
- If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
21. Black C8-7
- If Black plays C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C8-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
22. Black K4-1
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
24. Black C8=4
- 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
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
25. Black R4-3
- 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
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 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 "Catching the Hare in the Moon"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R6=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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