Butterfly Weaves Through the Flowers

"Butterfly Weaves Through the Flowers" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 11 moves; the key first move is +C=4. 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, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +C=4 (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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R6+3 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R6+3
2. Red C2=4 (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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R6=7 (captures the Horse)
2. Black R6=7
3. Red C4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black -P=5 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)
3. Black -P=5
4. Red P5+1 (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.
4. Black K6=5 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
4. Black K6=5
5. Red +R=5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 37 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C3+5
5. Black C3+5
6. Red C5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
6. Black R7=6
6. Black R7=6
7. Red C5=6 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black R6=5 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black R6=5
8. Red R5+2 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black C3=5 (captures the Chariot)
8. Black C3=5
9. Red R2+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P4=5 (check, the only legal reply)
9. Black P4=5
10. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C5=7
10. Black C5=7
11. Red R2=4 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P5=6 (captures the Chariot)
11. Black P5=6

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 R6+3
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=4. Try it on the board
2. Black R6=7
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black -P=5
- If Black plays +P+1 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=3 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
- 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
4. Black K6=5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black C3+5
- 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
- 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
6. Black R7=6
- 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
- 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
7. Black R6=5
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C3=5
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P4+1 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 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 C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C5=7
- 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 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 C5=6 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
11. Black P5=6
- 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 C7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=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 "Butterfly Weaves Through the Flowers"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move +C=4 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: Earthworm Subdues the Dragon Next puzzle: Dragonfly Perches on the Fishing Rod →

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