No. 12: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot, Advisor and Bottom Soldier

"No. 12: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot, Advisor and Bottom Soldier" 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=5. 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. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Chariot, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red R6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R6+5 (check, the only legal reply)
1. Black R6+5
2. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R6+1
2. Black R6+1
3. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P4=3
3. Black P4=3
4. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black P3=4
4. Black P3=4
5. Red R5+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P4=5
5. Black P4=5
6. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Red K6=5

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 R6+5
- If Black plays P4=5 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black R6+1
- If Black plays P4=5 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 R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black P4=3
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 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. 12: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot, Advisor and Bottom Soldier"?

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=5 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. 11: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Cannon and Two High Soldiers Next puzzle: No. 13: Two Chariots Draw by Rule vs Two Cannons with Full Advisors and Elephants →