No. 3: Horse and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants

"No. 3: Horse and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is H9+7. 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, 2 Elephants, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. Red H9+7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black K4+1
1. Black K4+1
2. Red C5-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black K4-1
2. Black K4-1
3. Red C5=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black E5+3
3. Black E5+3
4. Red C7=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black E7-5
4. Black E7-5
5. Red C6+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K4=5
5. Black K4=5
6. Red H7-9
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black E3-1
6. Black E3-1

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 K4+1
- If Black plays E7-9 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
- 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
2. Black K4-1
- If Black plays E7-9 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
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black E5+3
- If Black plays E7-9 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
- If Black plays E5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black E7-5
- If Black plays E3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3-1 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
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H7-6. Try it on the board
5. Black K4=5
- If Black plays E3-1 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
- 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 K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E3-1
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=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. 3: Horse and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Elephants"?

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 H9+7 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: Horse, Cannon and Elephant Draw by Rule vs Cannon and Two Soldiers Next puzzle: No. 4: Horse and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Draw by Rule vs Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants →