Black Dragon Flicks Its Tail

Black Dragon Flicks Its Tail楚河 漢界砲帥卒卒相車炮俥相兵兵象兵象車兵士將

"Black Dragon Flicks Its Tail" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 34 moves; the key first move is C5+4. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →

Free, in the browser, no download.

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red C5+4 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)
    1. Black E7-5 (captures the Cannon)
  2. 2. Red R4=8 (captures the Chariot)
    2. Black C2=3
  3. 3. Red R8=7
    3. Black C3-1
  4. 4. Red R7=1
    4. Black P5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
  5. 5. Red K4=5
    5. Black E5-7
  6. 6. Red R1-2
    6. Black P4+1 (check, the only legal reply)
  7. 7. Red K5=6 (captures the Soldier)
    7. Black C3=9 (captures the Chariot)
  8. 8. Red P3+1
    8. Black P6=5
  9. 9. Red P3+1
    9. Black C9-7
  10. 10. Red +P=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
    10. Black K5+1 (captures the Soldier)
  11. 11. Red P6+1
    11. Black C9=6
  12. 12. Red P3+1
    12. Black C6-1
  13. 13. Red P3=4
    13. Black C6=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
  14. 14. Red P6=7
    14. Black C4=5
  15. 15. Red P7=6
    15. Black C5=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
  16. 16. Red P6=7
    16. Black C4+1
  17. 17. Red P5+1
    17. Black C4-1
  18. 18. Red P5+1
    18. Black E1+3
  19. 19. Red P7+1
    19. Black E7+9
  20. 20. Red P5=4
    20. Black E9+7
  21. 21. Red -P=3
    21. Black E3-1
  22. 22. Red P3+1
    22. Black E7-9
  23. 23. Red P3+1
    23. Black E1+3
  24. 24. Red P3=4 (check, the only legal reply)
    24. Black K5-1
  25. 25. Red -P=3
    25. Black E3-1
  26. 26. Red P3+1
    26. Black E1+3
  27. 27. Red P7+1
    27. Black C4+8
  28. 28. Red P7=6 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, the only legal reply)
    28. Black K5=4 (captures the Soldier)
  29. 29. Red P4=5
    29. Black P5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
  30. 30. Red K6=5 (captures the Soldier)
    30. Black C4=2
  31. 31. Red P3=4
    31. Black C2-7
  32. 32. Red P4+1
    32. Black C2-1
  33. 33. Red P4=5 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
    33. Black C2=5 (captures the Soldier)
  34. 34. Red P5+1 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
    34. Black K4=5 (captures the Soldier)

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥相相象象將

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Black Dragon Flicks Its Tail"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C5+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: Black Dragon Swings Its TailNext puzzle: Mercy at Huarong Trail →

Nearby puzzles

More from Xinwu Endgame Collection →

Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文