No. 5: Cannon, Low Soldier, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and One Elephant

"No. 5: Cannon, Low Soldier, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and One Elephant" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 37 moves; the key first move is E3-5. 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, a Elephant, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant.

Solution move by move

1. Red E3-5
1. Black E3-1
2. Red E5+7
2. Black E1+3
3. Red K5+1
3. Black E3-1
4. Red C5=7
4. Black A6-5
5. Red K5-1
5. Black A5+6
6. Red K5-1
6. Black A6-5
7. Red C7+3
7. Black A5+6
8. Red C7-2
8. Black A6-5
9. Red K5=4
9. Black A5+6
10. Red A4-5
10. Black K6-1
11. Red A5+6
11. Black K6=5
12. Red C7=4
12. Black A6-5
13. Red A6-5
13. Black E1+3
14. Red K4=5
14. Black A5+6
15. Red K5=6
15. Black A6-5
16. Red A5+4
16. Black A5-6
17. Red K6+1
17. Black E3-1
18. Red K6+1
18. Black E1+3
19. Red C4=6
19. Black A6+5
20. Red K6=5
20. Black K5=6
21. Red C6=4 (check)
21. Black K6=5
22. Red C4=5
22. Black E3-1
23. Red P6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
23. Black A4-5 (captures the Soldier)
24. Red C5+7 (captures the Advisor)
24. Black E1-3
25. Red C5-3
25. Black K5=4
26. Red C5=1
26. Black E3+5
27. Red C1-5
27. Black K4+1
28. Red C1=5
28. Black E5+3
29. Red A4-5
29. Black E3-5
30. Red A5+6
30. Black K4=5
31. Red C5+7 (captures the Elephant)
31. Black K5-1
32. Red C5+1
32. Black K5=6
33. Red C5=3 (the only legal reply)
33. Black K6+1
34. Red A6-5
34. Black K6+1
35. Red C3-7 (the only legal reply)
35. Black K6-1
36. Red C3=4
36. Black K6+1
37. Red A5+4 (checkmate)

Variations and alternative defences

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

Variation 1, from move 1: K6-1 2. K5=4 E3-1 3. C5=4 K6=5 4. K4=5 A6-5 5. E5+3 E1+3 6. C4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 1: E3-5 2. K5=4 E5+7 3. A4-5 E7-9 4. C5=4 A4-5 5. A5+6 A5+4 6. C4+7 K6-1 7. K4-1 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 37 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 5: Cannon, Low Soldier, Advisor and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and One Elephant"?

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 E3-5 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: Cannon, Low Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Elephant and Soldier Next puzzle: No. 6: Cannon and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Single Elephant →