Five Sons Take First Place

"Five Sons Take First Place" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 12 moves; the key first move is C3+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, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C3+2 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, 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.
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.
1. Black E5-7 (captures the Cannon)
1. Black E5-7
2. Red R2=7 (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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black +P=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
2. Black +P=4
3. 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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P3=4 (check, the only legal reply)
3. Black P3=4
4. 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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black E7+9 (captures the Horse)
4. Black E7+9
5. Red P3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P5+1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black P5+1
6. Red R7-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black A5-4 (threatens mate next move)
6. Black A5-4
7. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P4+1 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
7. Black P4+1
8. Red R7=6 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
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 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P5=4 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move)
8. Black P5=4
9. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P8=7
9. Black P8=7
10. Red E3+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P7=6
10. Black P7=6
11. Red E1+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black A6+5
11. Black A6+5
12. Red P5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Red P5+1

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 2: 2. R2=9 +P=4+ 3. K6+1 P3+1+ 4. K6-1 P3+1+ 5. K6=5 P5+1# Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Five Sons Take First Place"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C3+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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