No. 26: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Cannon and Elephant

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red H5+4 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   1. Black K5=6

2. 2. Red P5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   2. Black C5=2

3. 3. Red H4+2 (check, the only legal reply)

   Why it works

   • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   3. Black K6-1

4. 4. Red P5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   4. Black E7+5

5. 5. Red H2-1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black E5+3

6. 6. Red H1+3 (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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black C2+1

7. 7. Red K6=5 (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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black E3-5

8. 8. Red H3+5 (captures the Elephant)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black C2+1

9. 9. Red H5-4 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black C2=1

10. 10. Red H4+3 (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.

• 2. Black C5=2
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black E7+5
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black E5+3
  • 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 C2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black C2+1
  • If Black plays E3-5 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
• 7. Black E3-5
  • If Black plays E3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
• 8. Black C2+1
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black C2=1
  • If Black plays C2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C2=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 22: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Horse and Advisor (1)
  16 moves
• No. 23: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Horse and Advisor (2)
  18 moves
• No. 25: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Cannon and Advisor (2)
  11 moves
• No. 27: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Cannon and Soldier
  16 moves
• No. 28: Horse and Two Soldiers Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Advisors
  6 moves
• No. 29: Horse and Two Soldiers Win by Rule vs Cannon and Two Advisors
  9 moves

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