No. 5: Horse and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Lone Chariot

"No. 5: Horse and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Lone Chariot" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is H7+6. 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 Horse, a Cannon. Black has a General, a Chariot.

Solution move by move

1. Red H7+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
1. Black R5+1
2. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R5-2
2. Black R5-2
3. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R5-3
3. Black R5-3
4. Red H6-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R5=3
4. Black R5=3
5. Red H7+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R3+5 (check, the only legal reply)
5. Black R3+5
6. 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.
6. Black R3-1
6. Black R3-1
7. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Red K6+1

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 R5+1
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black R5-2
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black R5-3
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R5=3
- If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R5=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black R3+5
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black R3-1
- If Black plays R3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R3=9 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. 5: Horse and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Lone Chariot"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H7+6 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. 4: Horse and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Draw by Rule vs Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 6: Horse and Cannon Win by Rule vs Cannon and Two Advisors (1) →