No. 13: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Two Cannons with Full Advisors and Elephants

"No. 13: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Two Cannons with Full Advisors and Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is R6+2. 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, 2 Cannons.

Solution move by move

1. Red R6+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black A6+5
1. Black A6+5
2. Red R7+3 (captures the Elephant)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black C2=4
2. Black C2=4
3. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black C6-1
3. Black C6-1
4. Red R6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black K5+1 (captures the Chariot)
4. Black K5+1
5. Red R7=6 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C4-1
5. Black C4-1
6. Red R6=1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C6=9
6. Black C6=9

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 2: C6-1 3. R7=6+ A5-4 4. R6=4 Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 13: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Two Cannons with Full Advisors and Elephants"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R6+2 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. 12: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot, Advisor and Bottom Soldier Next puzzle: No. 14: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Horse and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants →