Cannon Strikes the Four Gates

"Cannon Strikes the Four Gates" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is R2=5. 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 Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R2=5 (captures the Elephant, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black E3+5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black E3+5
2. Red H1-3 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5=4
3. Red H3-5 (captures the Elephant, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black A6+5 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black A6+5
4. Red R1+2 (check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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.
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.
4. Black C1=9 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
4. Black C1=9
5. Red C2-8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C9+9 (check, the General has no escape square)
5. Black C9+9
6. Red C2=8 (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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C9=2 (captures the Cannon)
6. Black C9=2
7. Red H5-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black C2=1
7. Black C2=1
8. Red H6+7 (check)
8. Black K4=5
8. Black K4=5
9. Red H7-9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black A5+6
9. Black A5+6
10. Red P8=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C1-3
10. Black C1-3
11. Red P7=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C1=9
11. Black C1=9
12. Red H9+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black C9-5
12. Black C9-5
13. Red H8-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black C9=3
13. Black C9=3
14. Red P6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black C3-1
14. Black C3-1
15. Red H7+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black C3+1
15. Black C3+1
16. Red H8-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Red H8-7

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 E3+5
- If Black plays A4-5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black A6+5
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black C9+9
- If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black C9=2
- If Black plays C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black C2=1
- If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black A5+6
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C1-3
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black C1=9
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black C9-5
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black C9=3
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black C3-1
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black C3+1
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A4-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=4 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 "Cannon Strikes the Four Gates"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R2=5 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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