Cannon Strikes Tongguan

"Cannon Strikes Tongguan" 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 P1=2. 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 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red P1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black C3=5
1. Black C3=5
2. Red P9=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black C5-6 (captures the Soldier)
2. Black C5-6
3. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K6=5
3. Black K6=5
4. Red A5-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black C5=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
4. Black C5=6
5. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C6+8 (captures the Advisor)
5. Black C6+8
6. Red P8=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C6=5
6. Black C6=5
7. Red P7=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black C5-5 (captures the Soldier)
7. Black C5-5
8. Red P3=4 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C5=6 (threatens mate next move)
8. Black C5=6
9. Red P4=5 (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.
9. Black K5=6
9. Black K5=6
10. Red P6+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 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
10. Black P5=6
11. Red K4=5 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C6=5
11. Black C6=5

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 C3=5
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 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
- If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black C5-6
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K6=5
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 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
4. Black C5=6
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 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
5. Black C6+8
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 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
6. Black C6=5
- If Black plays C6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black C5-5
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black C5=6
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. 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: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
10. Black P5=6
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. 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=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
11. Black C6=5
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. 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: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 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 Tongguan"?

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 P1=2 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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