No. 19: Horse, Cannon, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Horse, Two Advisors and One Elephant (1)

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, a Horse, a Cannon. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant, a Horse.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red H5+7 (check)

   1. Black K4=5

2. 2. Red H7-6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black H3-5

3. 3. Red H6+5 (captures the Elephant)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black H5+4 (captures the Advisor)

4. 4. Red H5+7 (check)

   4. Black K5=6

5. 5. Red K5+1 (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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black H4-5

6. 6. Red C7=4 (check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black H5-6

7. 7. Red C4+4

   7. Black A5+4

8. 8. Red H7-8 (threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   8. Black A4-5

9. 9. Red H8-6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black K6=5

10. 10. Red H6+4 (captures the Horse)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Horse.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    10. Black K5=4

11. 11. Red C4=6 (threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    11. Black K4+1

12. 12. Red C6-3

    12. Black K4-1

13. 13. Red H4+6 (checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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 K4=5
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black H3-5
  • If Black plays H3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black H5+4
  • If Black plays H5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black H4-5
  • If Black plays H4-2 instead: Red mates immediately with C7=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4+2 instead: Red mates immediately with C7=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4-3 instead: Red mates immediately with C7=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays H4+3 instead: Red mates immediately with C7=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black H5-6
  • If Black plays H5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black A5+4
  • 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
• 8. Black A4-5
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays A5-4 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
• 10. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with H4-6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4-6. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 16: Horse, Cannon and Advisor Win by Rule vs Two Horses and Advisor
  17 moves
• No. 17: Horse, Cannon, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Elephants (1)
  19 moves
• No. 18: Horse, Cannon, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Elephants (2)
  17 moves
• No. 20: Horse, Cannon, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Horse, Two Advisors and One Elephant (2)
  10 moves
• No. 21: Horse, Cannon, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Horse, Two Elephants and One Advisor
  11 moves
• No. 22: Horse and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Win by Rule vs Horse with Full Advisors and Elephants (1)
  11 moves

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