No. 34: Cannon, High Soldier, Two Elephants and One Advisor Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants (2)

"No. 34: Cannon, High Soldier, Two Elephants and One Advisor Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants (2)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 37 moves; the key first move is C7+1. 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 Advisor, 2 Elephants, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants.

Solution move by move

1. Red C7+1
1. Black K6=5
2. Red A4-5
2. Black A5-6
3. Red C7-1
3. Black A4+5
4. Red A5+4
4. Black K5=4
5. Red C7+3
5. Black K4=5
6. Red C7-2
6. Black K5=4
7. Red K4=5
7. Black A5+6
8. Red A4-5
8. Black +A-5
9. Red A5-4
9. Black A5+6
10. Red P5=6
10. Black +A-5
11. Red K5=6
11. Black E3+1
12. Red C7=6 (check)
12. Black K4=5
13. Red C6=5
13. Black E1-3
14. Red P6=5
14. Black E5+7
15. Red E5+3
15. Black E7-9
16. Red K6+1
16. Black E9+7
17. Red C5+2
17. Black E3+1
18. Red P5=6 (check)
18. Black K5=4
19. Red C5=6 (check)
19. Black K4=5
20. Red C6=3
20. Black E7-5
21. Red P6=5
21. Black E5-3
22. Red C3=5
22. Black E1+3
23. Red P5=6 (check)
23. Black K5=4
24. Red C5=6 (check)
24. Black K4=5
25. Red C6=2
25. Black -E+5
26. Red C2+6 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
26. Black E5-7
27. Red P6=5
27. Black E3-1
28. Red P5=4
28. Black E1-3
29. Red P4=3
29. Black E3+5
30. Red P3+1
30. Black E5-3
31. Red P3+1
31. Black E3+5
32. Red P3=4
32. Black E5+3
33. Red K6+1
33. Black E3-5
34. Red K6=5
34. Black A5+4
35. Red P4+1 (captures the Advisor, check)
35. Black K5+1
36. Red P4=3 (captures the Elephant)
36. Black K5=4
37. Red P3=4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 1: A5+4 2. P5+1 E3+5 3. C7=4+ K6=5 4. C4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 1: A5+6 2. C7=4 Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 34: Cannon, High Soldier, Two Elephants and One Advisor Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants (2)"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C7+1 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.

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