No. 17: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot, Two High Soldiers and Two Advisors

"No. 17: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot, Two High Soldiers and Two Advisors" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is K5=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 Chariots. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R4=3
1. Black R4=3
2. Red R8=4 (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.
2. Black K5=4
2. Black K5=4
3. Red R4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R3+9 (check, the only legal reply)
3. Black R3+9
4. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R3-9
4. Black R3-9
5. Red R5=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
5. Black R3=2
5. Black R3=2

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 R4=3
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K5=4
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+4. Try it on the board
3. Black R3+9
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R3-9
- 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 R3=2
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+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. 17: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot, Two High Soldiers and Two Advisors"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move K5=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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 16: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot with Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 18: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot, Horse, Two Advisors and One Elephant →