Cool problems, qixel. I discovered xiangqi on the Web and is now one of my favorite board games.

Been a long time since I played this in HongKong.  more than 23 years.  Loved it then, still do.   just haven't played it at all, no one in my area plays it.  ...

good solution, firecow.   thanks for posting this one, qixel.

Much bigger, yes.  Very nice introductory problem, simple and engaging!

Right !  Now the black cannon is pinned in the horizonal direction and blocked in the vertical.  Blocking seems to be a huge tactical theme in xiangqi; in my opinion, bigger than it is in chess.

Ahh, yes, I was thinking the cannon only moved horizontally.  Ce4-e7 seems like a better move!

Firecow, you are on the right track, but your solution is not quite correct.  After your suggested move, black can still move his cannon on e8 to any of e5, e6, or e7.

Gf1-f2

Black cannot move and loses. The Cannon and Advisor in front of the general are pinned because of the red Cannon threat. The Advisor on the D file cannont move anywhere. The black General cannot move to the F file because of the "flying general attack".