Flowers Hidden Beneath the Leaves

"Flowers Hidden Beneath the Leaves" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 6 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, a Cannon, 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 (captures the Cannon, 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.
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
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

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

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 Hundred Game Manual.

How many moves does the solution take?

6 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.

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