The Hegemon Sheds His Armor

"The Hegemon Sheds His Armor" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 11 moves; the key first move is C3=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 Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C3=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
1. Black R6=8
1. Black R6=8
2. Red H2-4 (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.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black R8=6
2. Black R8=6
3. Red H4+5 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R6=8
3. Black R6=8
4. Red H5-4 (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.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black R8=6
4. Black R8=6
5. Red H4+3 (captures the Soldier, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R6=7
5. Black R6=7
6. Red C4=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C2=1
6. Black C2=1
7. Red C9+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R7-1
7. Black R7-1
8. Red P5=4 (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.
8. Black R7=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
8. Black R7=6
9. 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.
9. Black R6=5
9. Black R6=5
10. Red C9=5 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black E7+5 (captures the Horse)
10. Black E7+5
11. Red C5-7 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Red C5-7

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=8
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H2+3. 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: Red mates immediately with H2+3. Try it on the board
3. Black R6=8
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. 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: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
5. Black R6=7
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6+5 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
6. Black C2=1
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
7. Black R7-1
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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
8. Black R7=6
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
9. Black R6=5
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black E7+5
- If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "The Hegemon Sheds His Armor"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C3=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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