No. 1: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot and Cannon

"No. 1: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot and Cannon" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is R5+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, a Chariot. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5+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 C2+5
1. Black C2+5
2. Red R5-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 29 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R6+5 (check, the only legal reply)
2. Black R6+5
3. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 28 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black C2=5
3. Black C2=5
4. Red R5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black K6+1
4. Black K6+1
5. Red R6+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C5=4
5. Black C5=4
6. Red R6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 26 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Red R6=5

Variations and alternative defences

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

Variation 1, from move 1: 1. R5-1 C2=5+ 2. K5=6 C5-4 3. R5=6 K6+1 4. R6+5+ K6+1 5. R6+1 R6=5 Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 1: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Chariot and Cannon"?

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 R5+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. 6: Two Cannons and Soldier with Full Advisors and Elephants Win by Rule vs Two Cannons and Two Elephants Next puzzle: No. 2: Lone Chariot Draws by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants →