Pink Peach, Green Willow

"Pink Peach, Green Willow" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 12 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, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red -R=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
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
1. Black C5=4 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black C5=4
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 31 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. Black P6+1
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 28 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. Black P5=6
4. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black C4=8 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black C4=8
5. Red R1=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black E1+3
5. Black E1+3
6. Red C1+9 (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 forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black E7+9
6. Black E7+9
7. Red C1=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black C8=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
7. Black C8=5
8. Red C5-2 (captures the Cannon, sacrifices the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black E3-5 (captures the Cannon)
8. Black E3-5
9. Red R5+2 (captures the Elephant)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black E9+7
9. Black E9+7
10. Red R5-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R4=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
10. Black R4=5
11. Red R5-4 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices 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 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P6=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
11. Black P6=5
12. Red K5+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
12. Red K5+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 C5=4
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black P6+1
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+6. Try it on the board
3. Black P5=6
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
4. Black C4=8
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black E1+3
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E7+9
- If Black plays C8-2 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
7. Black C8=5
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black E3-5
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black E9+7
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R4=5
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black P6=5
- 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 R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

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

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

How many moves does the solution take?

12 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.

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