No. 4: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants

"No. 4: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 4 moves; the key first move is R5=7. 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, 2 Elephants, 2 Cannons.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5=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 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black C2=3
1. Black C2=3
2. Red R7=1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black C8=9
2. Black C8=9
3. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black C3=2
3. Black C3=2
4. Red P4+1 (check)
4. Black K5+1
4. Black K5+1

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 C2=3
- If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C2+2 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+3. Try it on the board
2. Black C8=9
- 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
- If Black plays C3-1 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
- If Black plays C3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black C3=2
- If Black plays C3=4 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
- If Black plays C3-1 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
- If Black plays C3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=4 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. 4: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Practical Endgames.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R5=7 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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 3: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 5: Chariot and Low Soldier Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Elephant (1) →