Three Falls of the Bronze Banner

Three Falls of the Bronze Banner楚河 漢界卒炮帥相卒卒傌車相兵卒卒俥炮兵俥兵士砲象士將

"Three Falls of the Bronze Banner" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 18 moves; the key first move is R3=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, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R3=4 (check, 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.
    1. Black P5=6 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界卒炮帥相卒卒傌車相兵卒卒炮兵俥兵士砲象士將
    1. Black P5=6
  2. 2. Red C1=7 (captures the Soldier)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 37 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black R3-1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界卒炮帥相卒卒傌相車炮卒兵俥兵士砲象士將
    2. Black R3-1
  3. 3. Red R1+3 (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.
    3. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界卒炮帥相卒卒傌相車炮卒兵兵士將砲象士俥
    3. Black K6+1
  4. 4. Red +C+4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • 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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black R3-5 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界卒炮帥相卒卒傌相卒兵兵車士將砲象士俥
    4. Black R3-5
  5. 5. Red R1-1 (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.
    5. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界卒炮帥相卒卒傌相卒兵兵車士俥砲象士將
    5. Black K6-1
  6. 6. Red C7+9 (captures the Elephant, check, sacrifices the Cannon, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    • 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.
    6. Black R3-1 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界卒帥相卒卒傌相卒兵兵士俥砲車士將
    6. Black R3-1
  7. 7. Red R1+1 (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.
    7. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界卒帥相卒卒傌相卒兵兵士將砲車士俥
    7. Black K6+1
  8. 8. Red P5+1 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    8. Black A4+5 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界卒帥相卒卒傌相卒兵士將砲車俥
    8. Black A4+5
  9. 9. Red R1=7 (captures the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black P2=3 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界卒帥相卒卒傌相卒兵士將砲俥
    9. Black P2=3
  10. 10. Red R7-9 (captures the Soldier)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black P7=8 (captures the Horse)
    10楚河 漢界俥帥相卒卒相卒兵士將砲
    10. Black P7=8
  11. 11. Red R7+4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 32 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black C2=5 (check)
    11楚河 漢界帥相卒卒相俥卒兵士將砲
    11. Black C2=5
  12. 12. 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.
    12. Black P4=5
    12楚河 漢界帥相卒卒相俥卒兵士將砲
    12. Black P4=5
  13. 13. Red R7=4 (captures the Soldier, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    13. Black A5+6
    13楚河 漢界帥相卒卒相俥兵士將砲
    13. Black A5+6
  14. 14. Red R4=3
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black C5=1
    14楚河 漢界帥相卒卒相俥兵士將砲
    14. Black C5=1
  15. 15. Red P3+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black C1+8
    15楚河 漢界帥相砲卒卒相俥兵士將
    15. Black C1+8
  16. 16. Red P3+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black P8=7 (threatens mate next move)
    16楚河 漢界帥相砲卒卒相俥士兵將
    16. Black P8=7
  17. 17. Red R3-3 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black C1=7 (captures the Chariot)
    17楚河 漢界帥相卒砲相士兵將
    17. Black C1=7
  18. 18. Red P3=4 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    18. Black K6=5
    18楚河 漢界帥相卒砲相兵將
    18. Black K6=5

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥相卒砲相兵將

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Three Falls of the Bronze Banner"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R3=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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