Night Banquet at Hongmen

"Night Banquet at Hongmen" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 24 moves; the key first move is +C=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, a Horse, 2 Cannons, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red +C=6 (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.
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R4+2 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black R4+2
2. Red C2=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
Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
2. Black R4=8
2. Black R4=8
3. Red H6+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 34 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R8+1
3. Black R8+1
4. Red C6+1 (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.
4. Black R8-1 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black R8-1
5. Red H5+3 (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 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
5. Black +P=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
5. Black +P=4
6. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P3+1 (check, the only legal reply)
6. Black P3+1
7. Red K6-1 (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.
7. Black P3+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
7. Black P3+1
8. Red K6+1 (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 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P6=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
8. Black P6=5
9. Red R2=5 (captures the Soldier, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
9. Black R8=7 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
9. Black R8=7
10. Red -R+1 (captures the Soldier, 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
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R7=4 (captures the Cannon, check)
10. Black R7=4
11. Red -R=6 (sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R4+2 (captures the Chariot, check, the only legal reply)
11. Black R4+2
12. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black R4+1 (check)
12. Black R4+1
13. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R4+1
13. Black R4+1
14. Red K5-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black C1+2
14. Black C1+2
15. Red R5=9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black C1=2
15. Black C1=2
16. Red P3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black C2-7
16. Black C2-7
17. Red R9-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black R4-1 (check)
17. Black R4-1
18. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
18. Black R4=2
18. Black R4=2
19. Red R9-1 (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 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
19. Black C2+1
19. Black C2+1
20. Red R9-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 31 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
20. Black C2+1
20. Black C2+1
21. Red R9-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 30 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
21. Black C2+3
21. Black C2+3
22. Red P3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
22. Black P3=2
22. Black P3=2
23. Red P4=5 (check, 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 forNo real drawback in this position.
23. Black K4-1
23. Black K4-1
24. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
24. Black P2=3
24. Black P2=3

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 R4+2
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with C2=6. Try it on the board
2. Black R4=8
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+6. Try it on the board
3. Black R8+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 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 C1-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R8-1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+6. Try it on the board
5. Black +P=4
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
6. Black P3+1
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
7. Black P3+1
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
8. Black P6=5
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
9. Black R8=7
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+5. Try it on the board
10. Black R7=4
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with -R+5. Try it on the board
11. Black R4+2
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6+2. Try it on the board
12. Black R4+1
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 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 C1-1 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
13. Black R4+1
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black C1+2
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black C1=2
- 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
- If Black plays C1-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C1-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
16. Black C2-7
- If Black plays C2=1 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 C2-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
17. Black R4-1
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
18. Black R4=2
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
19. Black C2+1
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R9=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R9=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R9=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R9=6. Try it on the board
20. Black C2+1
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
21. Black C2+3
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
22. Black P3=2
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
24. Black P2=3
- If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=7 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 "Night Banquet at Hongmen"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move +C=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.

← Previous puzzle: Wild Geese Fly in Pairs Next puzzle: Mandarin Duck Cannon Pair →

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