No. 6: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Elephant (2)
"No. 6: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Elephant (2)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is R5=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, a Chariot, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red R5=4Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black K4=51. Black K4=5 - 2. Red R4+3Why 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 for2. Black K5+12. Black K5+1 - 3. Red P3=43. Black K5=4
3. Black K5=4 - 4. Red P4=3Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black K4=54. Black K4=5 - 5. Red R4-3Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K5-15. Black K5-1 - 6. Red R4=56. Black R3=5
6. Black R3=5 - 7. Red R5=4Why it worksWhat to watch out for
- Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R5=37. Black R5=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 K4=5
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 3. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 4. Black K4=5
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 5. Black K5-1
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 6. Black R3=5
- If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- 7. Black R5=3
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=2 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 "No. 6: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Elephant (2)"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Practical Endgames.
How many moves does the solution take?
7 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move R5=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.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 3: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants
- No. 4: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants
- No. 5: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Elephant (1)
- No. 7: Chariot, Low Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Chariot and Two Elephants (2)
- No. 8: Chariot, Low Soldier and Advisor Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Advisor (2)
- No. 9: Chariot and High Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon, Two High Soldiers and Two Advisors
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