Pink Peach, Green Willow

Pink Peach, Green Willow楚河 漢界帥炮炮車卒卒俥俥砲兵將象

"Pink Peach, Green Willow" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 10 moves; the key first move is -R=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 Chariots, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red -R=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.
    1. Black C2=4 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥炮炮車卒卒俥俥砲兵將象
    1. Black C2=4
  2. 2. Red R6=4 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black P6+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
    2楚河 漢界帥炮炮車卒卒俥俥砲兵將象
    2. Black P6+1
  3. 3. Red R4-2 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • 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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black P5=6 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    3楚河 漢界帥炮炮車卒俥砲兵將象
    3. Black P5=6
  4. 4. Red K4=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black C4=8 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界帥炮炮車卒俥砲兵將象
    4. Black C4=8
  5. 5. Red C3+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.
    5. Black R4-4
    5楚河 漢界帥炮卒炮俥車砲兵將象
    5. Black R4-4
  6. 6. Red R1=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black E7+5
    6楚河 漢界帥炮卒炮俥車象砲兵將
    6. Black E7+5
  7. 7. Red C3+8 (sacrifices the Cannon)
    Why it works–
    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 35 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black E5-7 (captures the Cannon)
    7楚河 漢界帥炮卒俥車砲兵將象
    7. Black E5-7
  8. 8. Red P5=4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 38 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black C8-2
    8楚河 漢界帥炮卒俥車兵將象砲
    8. Black C8-2
  9. 9. Red C1=2
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black R4+4
    9楚河 漢界帥炮車卒俥兵將象砲
    9. Black R4+4
  10. 10. Red R5+2
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10楚河 漢界帥炮車卒俥兵將象砲
    10. Red R5+2

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.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥炮車卒俥兵將象砲

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Pink Peach, Green Willow"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move -R=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.

Nearby puzzles

More from Xinwu Endgame Collection →

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