Butterfly Lingers on the Flower

"Butterfly Lingers on the Flower" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 9 moves; the key first move is R2+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 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R2+1 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
1. Black P5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
1. Black P5=6
2. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P7=8 (captures the Chariot)
2. Black P7=8
3. Red P9=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P8+1
3. Black P8+1
4. Red P8=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black P8=7 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black P8=7
5. Red P7=6 (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.
5. Black K4=5
5. Black K4=5
6. Red H4+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black E7-9
6. Black E7-9
7. Red K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black E9-7 (captures the Horse)
7. Black E9-7
8. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black -P=5 (captures the Soldier)
8. Black -P=5
9. Red P3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black E7+9
9. Black E7+9

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 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 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
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black P7=8
- 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 P7+1 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=7 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
3. Black P8+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 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 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
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black P8=7
- If Black plays P8=9 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=7 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+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E7-9
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 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+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black E9-7
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
8. Black -P=5
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 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+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black E7+9
- 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 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 P5+1 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 Lingers on the Flower"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2+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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