Straying Into Mount Tiantai

"Straying Into Mount Tiantai" 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 C3+3. 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 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C3+3 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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 for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black E5-7 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black E5-7
2. Red H2+4 (check, sacrifices the Horse, 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 Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black A5+6 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
2. Black A5+6
3. Red A5+4 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 40 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R8=6
3. Black R8=6
4. Red R1-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 36 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R6+2 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
4. Black R6+2
5. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R6=5 (captures the Elephant, check)
5. Black R6=5
6. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 37 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R5=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
6. Black R5=6
7. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black C2+3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
7. Black C2+3
8. Red A6+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Advisor stands where it can be captured.
8. Black R6=3
8. Black R6=3
9. 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.
9. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
9. Black K5=4
10. Red R1=6 (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.
10. Black K4=5
10. Black K4=5
11. Red R6-2 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R3+2 (check, the General has no escape square)
11. Black R3+2
12. Red R6-1 (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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black C2=4 (captures the Chariot)
12. Black C2=4
13. Red A5-6 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Advisor stands where it can be captured.
13. Black P5+1 (captures the Soldier)
13. Black P5+1
14. Red R2-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black R3-5
14. Black R3-5
15. Red R2=5 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Red R2=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.

3. Black R8=6
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R6+2
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black R6=5
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 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
6. Black R5=6
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 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
7. Black C2+3
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 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
8. Black R6=3
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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: 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 C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black R3+2
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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: 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 C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black C2=4
- If Black plays C2=1 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 C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 C2-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P5+1
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black R3-5
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-3 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 "Straying Into Mount Tiantai"?

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 C3+3 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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