Fallen Blossoms Form a Brocade

"Fallen Blossoms Form a Brocade" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is H5-7. 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, a Chariot, a Horse, 5 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H5-7 (check)
1. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black K4+1
2. Red H7-5 (check)
2. Black K4=5
2. Black K4=5
3. Red P4=5 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
3. Black R6-8 (captures the Chariot)
3. Black R6-8
4. Red +P=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
4. Black R6=8
4. Black R6=8
5. Red +P=2 (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.
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R8+1 (captures the Soldier)
5. Black R8+1
6. Red P3=4 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move, 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.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
6. Black C2=6 (captures the Soldier)
6. Black C2=6
7. Red H5+3 (check)
7. Black K5=4
7. Black K5=4
8. Red H3+2 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C6=1 (captures the Soldier)
8. Black C6=1
9. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P9=8
9. Black P9=8
10. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C1-1
10. Black C1-1
11. Red H2+4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C1-1
11. Black C1-1
12. Red H4-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black C1+1
12. Black C1+1
13. Red H2-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black C1=5 (check)
13. Black C1=5
14. Red P4=5 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black A4+5 (captures the Soldier)
14. Black A4+5
15. Red H4-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black P8=7
15. Black P8=7
16. Red H3-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black P7=6 (threatens mate next move)
16. Black P7=6
17. Red P5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Red 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 K4+1
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black R6-8
- 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R6=8
- 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 P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 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
5. Black R8+1
- 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 P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 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
7. Black K5=4
- If Black plays C6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C6=1
- 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 P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 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
9. Black P9=8
- 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 P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C1-1
- 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black C1-1
- 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black C1+1
- 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black C1=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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black A4+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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black P8=7
- 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 P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 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
16. Black P7=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 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 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 "Fallen Blossoms Form a Brocade"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H5-7 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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