Earthworm Subdues the Dragon

"Earthworm Subdues the Dragon" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 18 moves; the key first move is P1+1. 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 Chariots, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P1+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black P3+1
1. Black P3+1
2. Red P1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black E5-7
2. Black E5-7
3. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P3=4
3. Black P3=4
4. Red P3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black A5-6
5. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black A4+5
5. Black A4+5
6. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P4=5
6. Black P4=5
7. Red R4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black -P+1
7. Black -P+1
8. Red P5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black -P+1
8. Black -P+1
9. Red R1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black K5=4
9. Black K5=4
10. Red R4-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black A5+4
10. Black A5+4
11. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black A6+5
11. Black A6+5
12. Red P5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black -P=4
12. Black -P=4
13. Red P6+1 (captures the Advisor, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black A5+4 (captures the Soldier)
13. Black A5+4
14. Red R4+5 (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.
14. Black K4+1
14. Black K4+1
15. Red R2+8 (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.
15. Black A4-5 (threatens mate next move)
15. Black A4-5
16. Red R2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black P7+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
16. Black P7+1
17. Red R3-8 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black A5-6 (captures the Chariot)
17. Black A5-6
18. Red R3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black P4+1
18. Black P4+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 P3+1
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black E5-7
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black P3=4
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black A5-6
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black A4+5
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black P4=5
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black -P+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black -P+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black K5=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black A5+4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black A6+5
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black -P=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black A5+4
- 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 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 P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black P7+1
- 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 P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black A5-6
- 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 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
18. Black P4+1
- 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 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 K4=5 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 "Earthworm Subdues the Dragon"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Hundred Game Manual.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move P1+1 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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