No. 16: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot with Full Advisors and Elephants

"No. 16: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot with Full Advisors and Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 2 moves; the key first move is R8=6. 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, 2 Elephants, a Chariot.

Solution move by move

1. Red R8=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R3=4
1. Black R3=4
2. Red R6=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black K5=4
2. Black K5=4

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 R3=4
- If Black plays R3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K5=4
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4+1 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. 16: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot with Full Advisors and Elephants"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R8=6 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. 15: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two High Soldiers with Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 17: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Chariot, Two High Soldiers and Two Advisors →