The Master Butcher Carves the Ox

"The Master Butcher Carves the Ox" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 31 moves; the key first move is H5+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, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red H5+4 (check)
1. Black K4=5
2. Red H4-6 (check)
2. Black K5=4
3. Red R4-5
3. Black K4-1
4. Red H6+4
4. Black K4-1
5. Red H4+2
5. Black R9=4
6. Red H2+3
6. Black R4-1
7. Red H3-4
7. Black R4+2
8. Red R4+1
8. Black R4-2
9. Red H4-5
9. Black R4=5
10. Red H5+7
10. Black R5+6 (check)
11. Red K4+1
11. Black K4=5
12. Red H7+9
12. Black R5-1 (check, the only legal reply)
13. Red K4-1
13. Black P4=5 (check, the only legal reply)
14. Red K4-1
14. Black K5+1
15. Red H9-8
15. Black R5-5
16. Red H8+6 (check)
16. Black K5=4
17. Red R4=6
17. Black R5+5
18. Red H6-8 (check, the only legal reply)
18. Black K4=5
19. Red H8+7 (check)
19. Black K5+1
20. Red R6=4
20. Black K5=4
21. Red H7+8
21. Black R5-4
22. Red R4+5
22. Black R5-2
23. Red R4-3
23. Black R5+5
24. Red H8-9
24. Black K4-1
25. Red R4+2 (check)
25. Black K4-1
26. Red H9+8
26. Black R5-4
27. Red R4+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
27. Black R5-2
28. Red H8-7 (check, the only legal reply)
28. Black K4+1
29. Red R4=5 (captures the Chariot)
29. Black K4+1
30. Red R5-8 (captures the Soldier, the only legal reply)
30. Black K4-1
31. Red R5=6 (checkmate)

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 12 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 24: R5=7 25. R4+1+ K4-1 26. H9-7+ Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 21: K4=5 22. R4+3+ K5-1 23. H8-7+ K5=4 24. R4+2 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 17: R5=9 18. H6+8+ K4=5 19. R6=5+ R9=5 20. H8+7+ Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 15: K5=4 16. H8+7 K4+1 17. H7+8 Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 15: K5+1 16. H8+6 K5=4 17. H6+8 K4=5 18. H8+7 Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 9: R4+1 10. R4+5+ K4+1 11. R4=5 R4=3 12. H5+4+ K4+1 13. K4-1 R3+5 14. K4+1 R3-5 15. K4-1 R3+5 16. K4+1 R3-5 17. K4-1 R3+2 18. R5=6+ K4=5 19. R6-8 Try it on the board
Variation 7, from move 8: R4+2 9. H4-5 R4=5 10. R4+5+ K4+1 11. R4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 8, from move 8: P4=3 9. R4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 9, from move 7: P4=3 8. H4-5 R4+2 9. R4+6+ K4+1 10. R4=5 R4=3 11. H5+4+ K4+1 12. K4-1 P3=4 13. R5=6+ K4=5 14. R6-8 Try it on the board
Variation 10, from move 8: R4+6+ 9. K4-1 R4+1+ 10. K4+1 K4=5 11. R4=5 R4-8 12. H5+4+ K5=6 13. R5=4 R4+7+ 14. K4-1 Try it on the board
Variation 11, from move 8: R4=3 9. R4+3 K4+1 10. H5+7 K4=5 11. R4=5+ K5=4 12. K4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 12, from move 5: R9+5+ 6. K4+1 R9=5 7. H2-3 K4+1 8. R4+3 K4=5 9. H3+5 K5+1 10. R4+1+ K5-1 11. H5+7+ K5=4 12. R4+1+ K4+1 13. H7+9 K4=5 14. H9+7 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 31 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "The Master Butcher Carves the Ox"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Chariot & Horse mates.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H5+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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