Monkey Picks the Fruit

"Monkey Picks the Fruit" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 10 moves; the key first move is P5+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 Chariots, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P5+1 (captures the Cannon, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
1. Black K6=5 (captures the Soldier)
1. Black K6=5
2. Red P2=3 (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 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black E5-7 (captures the Soldier)
2. Black E5-7
3. Red +R=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P4+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
3. Black P4+1
4. Red K5=6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black H5-3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
4. Black H5-3
5. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 33 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
5. Black P5+1
6. Red C1=5 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
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 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R6=5 (captures the Cannon, check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
6. Black R6=5
7. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
7. Black R5+1
8. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black H3-5 (check)
8. Black H3-5
9. Red R3=5 (captures the Horse, check, sacrifices the Chariot, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
9. Black R5-3 (captures the Chariot)
9. Black R5-3
10. Red R1=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Red R1=4

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 K6=5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black E5-7
- 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 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
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P4=3 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
- If Black plays R6-1 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
4. Black H5-3
- If Black plays H5+3 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
- If Black plays R6-1 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
5. Black P5+1
- 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
- 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
6. Black R6=5
- 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
- If Black plays R6-1 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 R6-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R5+1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black H3-5
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black R5-3
- If Black plays A4+5 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Monkey Picks the Fruit"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Hundred Game Manual.

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 P5+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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