No. 3: Two Horses and Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Horses and Advisor (1)

No. 3: Two Horses and Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Horses and Advisor (1)楚河 漢界帥傌馬馬兵傌士將

"No. 3: Two Horses and Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Horses and Advisor (1)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 20 moves; the key first move is H7+8. 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 Horses, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Horses.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H7+8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black H4-3
    1楚河 漢界帥馬兵傌傌馬士將
    1. Black H4-3
  2. 2. Red P5+1 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
    Why it works
    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black H6-5 (captures the Soldier)
    2楚河 漢界帥傌傌馬馬將
    2. Black H6-5
  3. 3. Red K6=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black H3+2
    3楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌馬將
    3. Black H3+2
  4. 4. Red H3+5 (captures the Horse)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Horse.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black H2-3
    4楚河 漢界帥傌馬傌將
    4. Black H2-3
  5. 5. Red K5+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    5. Black H3+2
    5楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    5. Black H3+2
  6. 6. Red H8-7
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black H2-3
    6楚河 漢界帥傌馬傌將
    6. Black H2-3
  7. 7. Red H7+6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black H3+4
    7楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    7. Black H3+4
  8. 8. Red H6+8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black H4+2
    8楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    8. Black H4+2
  9. 9. Red K5-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black H2-4
    9楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    9. Black H2-4
  10. 10. Red H8-7
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black H4+6
    10楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    10. Black H4+6
  11. 11. Red H7-8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black H6-8
    11楚河 漢界帥傌馬傌將
    11. Black H6-8
  12. 12. Red H8+6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black H8+7
    12楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    12. Black H8+7
  13. 13. Red H6+4 (check)
    13. Black K5=6
    13楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    13. Black K5=6
  14. 14. Red H5-3 (check, the only legal reply)
    Why it works
    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    14. Black K6+1
    14楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    14. Black K6+1
  15. 15. Red H4+6 (threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black H7-5
    15楚河 漢界帥馬傌傌將
    15. Black H7-5
  16. 16. Red H3+2 (check, the only legal reply)
    Why it works
    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    16. Black K6=5
    16楚河 漢界帥馬傌將傌
    16. Black K6=5
  17. 17. Red H6-7 (the only legal reply)
    Why it works
    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    17. Black K5-1
    17楚河 漢界帥馬傌將傌
    17. Black K5-1
  18. 18. Red H7-5 (captures the Horse)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Horse.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    18. Black K5+1
    18楚河 漢界帥傌將傌
    18. Black K5+1
  19. 19. Red K5=6
    19. Black K5+1
    19楚河 漢界帥傌將傌
    19. Black K5+1
  20. 20. Red H2-3 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    20楚河 漢界帥傌將傌
    20. Red H2-3

Variations and alternative defences

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

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥傌將傌

Red wins after 20 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 3: Two Horses and Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Horses and Advisor (1)"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H7+8 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. 2: Two Horses and Soldier Win by Rule vs Cannon with Full Advisors and ElephantsNext puzzle: No. 4: Two Horses and Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Horses and Advisor (2) →

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