Two Linchpins Thrown Into the Spring

"Two Linchpins Thrown Into the Spring" 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=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 Cannon, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red -R=6 (check, 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.
1. Black R4-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R4-4
2. Red R1=6 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
2. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K4=5
3. Red R6-1 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R2=4 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black R2=4
4. Red R6+4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black R4-8 (captures the Chariot)
4. Black R4-8
5. Red C1+5 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black E7+9
5. Black E7+9
6. Red C1=6 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
6. Black P5+1
6. Black P5+1
7. Red C6=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black K5=4
8. Red E7+5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P9=8
8. Black P9=8
9. Red C9-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P8=7 (captures the Soldier)
9. Black P8=7
10. Red P4=5 (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 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C2=5 (check, the General has no escape square)
10. Black C2=5
11. Red E5+7 (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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C5-5 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
11. Black C5-5
12. Red C9=5 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P7=6
12. Black P7=6
13. Red E9-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black E5-7
13. Black E5-7
14. Red C5=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black -P=5
14. Black -P=5
15. Red C2-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Red C2-7

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 R4-4
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K4=5
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black R2=4
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R4-8
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black P5+1
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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: 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=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black K5=4
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 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
8. Black P9=8
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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: 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
9. Black P8=7
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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: 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
10. Black C2=5
- 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 P7=6. 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 P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
11. Black C5-5
- 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 P7=6. 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 C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P7=6. Try it on the board
12. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black E5-7
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black -P=5
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E9+7 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 "Two Linchpins Thrown Into the Spring"?

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=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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