Two Purple Swallows in Flight

"Two Purple Swallows in Flight" 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 +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, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +C=6 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
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.
Not forcing: the defender has 8 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 C1=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R4=6 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black R4=6
3. Red R1+6 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
3. Black R6-3 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black R6-3
4. Red R1=4 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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.
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black C3=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
4. Black C3=6
5. Red R3=6 (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.
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P3=4 (captures the Chariot)
5. Black P3=4
6. Red C6-3 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black P4=5
6. Black P4=5
7. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black C6+6
7. Black C6+6
8. Red P3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C6=5
8. Black C6=5
9. Red P4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black C5-5 (captures the Soldier)
9. Black C5-5
10. Red P4=5 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black -P+1
10. Black -P+1
11. Red E9+7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black -P=6
11. Black -P=6
12. Red E1-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P6+1
12. Black P6+1
13. Red C6+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P6+1
13. Black P6+1
14. Red P5+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
14. Black K4=5 (captures the Soldier)
14. Black K4=5
15. Red C6=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Red C6=8

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=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
2. Black R4=6
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
3. Black R6-3
- If Black plays C3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. 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: Red mates immediately with C6-3. 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: Red mates immediately with C6-4. 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
6. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black C6+6
- 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 -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 C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C6=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 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
9. Black C5-5
- 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 C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. 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 -P=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black -P=6
- 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 -P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black P6+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 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
13. Black P6+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 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Two Purple Swallows in Flight"?

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 +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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