No. 2: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants

"No. 2: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is R7+1. 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, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants.

Solution move by move

1. Red R7+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black A5-4
1. Black A5-4
2. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black A6+5
2. Black A6+5
3. Red R7-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K5=6
3. Black K5=6
4. Red R7=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black K6=5
4. Black K6=5
5. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K5=6
5. Black K5=6

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 A5-4
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with R7+2. 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
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black A6+5
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K5=6
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 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+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 K6=5
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 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
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K5=6
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+3. 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+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. 2: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants"?

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 R7+1 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. 1: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot and Cannon Next puzzle: No. 3: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Two High Soldiers and Two Elephants →