Beauty That Sinks Fish and Drops Geese

"Beauty That Sinks Fish and Drops Geese" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is C3+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, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C3+6 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R6=7 (captures the Cannon)
1. Black R6=7
2. Red C2+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 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R7+9 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
2. Black R7+9
3. Red E1-3 (captures 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 for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P3=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
3. Black P3=4
4. Red K6=5 (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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black -P=5 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black -P=5
5. Red P5+1 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
The Soldier stands where it can be captured.
5. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K4+1
6. Red H9-8 (check)
6. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black K4+1
7. Red C2-2 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black E5+7 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black E5+7
8. Red H8-7 (check)
8. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black K4-1
9. Red H7-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
9. Black P5+1
9. Black P5+1
10. Red R1=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P5+1 (check, the General has no escape square)
10. Black P5+1
11. Red R5-2 (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 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P4=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
11. Black P4=5
12. Red H6-5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
12. Black K4=5
12. Black K4=5
13. Red C2=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black +P=8
13. Black +P=8
14. Red C9-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P8=7
14. Black P8=7
15. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black P6=5 (captures the Horse)
15. Black P6=5
16. Red C9=3 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Red C9=3

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=7
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+2 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+3 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+4 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+6. Try it on the board
2. Black R7+9
- If Black plays R7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7+2 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R7+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
4. 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: Red mates immediately with R1=6. 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: Red mates immediately with R1=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black E5+7
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black K4-1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P5+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 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
10. Black P5+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 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
11. 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black K4=5
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black +P=8
- 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 +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black P8=7
- 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 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 E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P6+1 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 E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-5 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Beauty That Sinks Fish and Drops Geese"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C3+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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