Flowers Hidden Beneath the Leaves

"Flowers Hidden Beneath the Leaves" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 18 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, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red -C=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black R6-2 (captures the Cannon)
1. Black R6-2
2. Red C1=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black H5-6 (captures the Cannon)
2. Black H5-6
3. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
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.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier)
3. Black K6+1
4. Red P6=5 (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.
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R5+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
4. Black R5+1
5. Red R3+8 (check)
5. Black K6-1
5. Black K6-1
6. Red R1+8 (check, 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.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black E5-7 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
6. Black E5-7
7. Red R3=5 (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 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black E3+5
7. Black E3+5
8. Red R5=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P4=5 (check)
8. Black P4=5
9. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black H6+4 (check)
9. Black H6+4
10. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R6+2 (check)
10. Black R6+2
11. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R6-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
11. Black R6-1
12. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black H4+2 (check)
12. Black H4+2
13. Red R8-6 (captures the Horse, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R6=2 (captures the Chariot)
13. Black R6=2
14. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P8=7
14. Black P8=7
15. Red P3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black R2-3
15. Black R2-3
16. Red R1-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black R2=4 (check)
16. Black R2=4
17. Red R1=6 (sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works–
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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black R4+3 (captures the Chariot, check)
17. Black R4+3
18. Red K6+1 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Red K6+1

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 R6-2
- If Black plays H5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
2. Black H5-6
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R5+1
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
5. Black K6-1
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P2=3. Try it on the board
7. Black E3+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: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
8. 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 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
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black H6+4
- 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
- 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=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R6+2
- 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
- If Black plays H4-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black R6-1
- If Black plays R6=7 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
- 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
12. Black H4+2
- 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
- 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=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black R6=2
- 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
- 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=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black P8=7
- 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black R2-3
- 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black R2=4
- 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 R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black R4+3
- 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 R4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+7. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Flowers Hidden Beneath the Leaves"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

18 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: Blooming and Bearing Fruit Next puzzle: Grasping the Horse to Remonstrate →

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