No. 200: Fallen Blossoms on Flowing Water

"No. 200: Fallen Blossoms on Flowing Water" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is R6+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 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red R6+3 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
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.
1. Black A5-4 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black A5-4
2. Red R9=4 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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 for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black K6+1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
2. Black K6+1
3. Red P3=4 (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.
3. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
3. Black K6+1
4. Red H3+5 (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.
4. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black K6-1
5. Red H5+3 (check)
5. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K6-1
6. Red H3+2 (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 K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K6+1
7. Red C1+2 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Red C1+2

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 5: K6+1 6. H3+2+ Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 3: K6-1 4. C1=4# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 200: Fallen Blossoms on Flowing Water"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R6+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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 199: Eagle Seizes the Hare

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