Decisions from the Ninefold Palace

"Decisions from the Ninefold Palace" 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 +C=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, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +C=6 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R4+1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R4+1
2. Red P5=6 (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.
2. Black R4-2 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
2. Black R4-2
3. Red R4=6 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K4+1 (captures the Chariot)
3. Black K4+1
4. Red R1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black H5+7 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
4. Black H5+7
5. Red R2=3 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C8=9
5. Black C8=9
6. Red R3=1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C9=6 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black C9=6
7. Red R1-2 (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 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P8=9 (captures the Chariot)
7. Black P8=9
8. Red H3+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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C6=8
8. Black C6=8
9. Red C1+3 (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.
9. Black C8-7
9. Black C8-7
10. Red H4-3 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C8+5
10. Black C8+5
11. Red H3-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C8=6
11. Black C8=6
12. Red H4-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black C3=6 (check, the General has no escape square)
12. Black C3=6
13. Red C1=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P5=4
13. Black P5=4
14. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Red K4+1

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 R4+1
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black R4-2
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
3. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black H5+7
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 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 C8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black C8=9
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 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 C8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black C9=6
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 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 C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P8=9
- If Black plays P8=7 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 C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C6=8
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+3. 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: Red mates immediately with C1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C1+3. Try it on the board
10. Black C8+5
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3-5. 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+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
11. Black C8=6
- If Black plays P9=8 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 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
12. Black C3=6
- If Black plays P9=8 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 C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P5=4
- If Black plays P9=8 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 +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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Decisions from the Ninefold Palace"?

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 +C=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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