No. 21: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (4)

"No. 21: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (4)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 39 moves; the key first move is P3+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, a Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red P3+1
1. Black P2+1
2. Red P3+1
2. Black P2=3
3. Red K5+1
3. Black P3=4
4. Red H5+3
4. Black K6=5
5. Red P3=4
5. Black K5=4
6. Red H3-5
6. Black K4+1
7. Red H5-7
7. Black P4=3
8. Red K5=6
8. Black A5-6
9. Red H7+5
9. Black K4-1
10. Red H5+7
10. Black K4=5
11. Red A4+5
11. Black P3+1 (check)
12. Red K6-1
12. Black P3=2
13. Red H7+5
13. Black A6+5
14. Red K6=5
14. Black A5+6
15. Red H5-6
15. Black A4-5
16. Red H6-7
16. Black P2=3
17. Red K5=6
17. Black A5+4
18. Red H7+9
18. Black K5=4
19. Red H9+8
19. Black P3=2
20. Red K6+1
20. Black P2=3 (check)
21. Red K6+1
21. Black P3=2
22. Red H8-7
22. Black K4=5
23. Red H7+6
23. Black A6-5
24. Red K6=5
24. Black K5=4
25. Red H6-8
25. Black P2=3
26. Red H8+7 (check)
26. Black K4+1
27. Red K5=6
27. Black A5+6
28. Red H7-9
28. Black P3=2
29. Red H9+8
29. Black P2=3
30. Red H8-7 (check, the only legal reply)
30. Black K4-1
31. Red H7-5
31. Black K4=5
32. Red H5+4 (captures the Advisor)
32. Black P3=2
33. Red H4-5
33. Black A4-5
34. Red H5+7
34. Black A5+4
35. Red H7+8
35. Black A4-5
36. Red K6=5
36. Black P2+1
37. Red P4=5 (captures the Advisor, check, the only legal reply)
37. Black K5=6
38. Red H8-6
38. Black P2=1
39. Red P5=4 (checkmate)

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 6 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 27: A5-6 28. H7-9 P3=2 29. H9+8 P2=3 30. H8-7+ K4-1 31. H7+5+ K4=5 32. H5+4 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 15: A6-5 16. A5+4 P2=3 17. K5+1 K5=4 18. H6+7+ K4+1 19. K5+1 A5-6 20. K5=6 P3=2 21. H7-9 P2=3 22. H9+8 P3=2 23. H8-7+ K4-1 24. H7+5+ K4=5 25. H5+4 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 15: K5=4 16. H6-7 P2=3 17. K5=6 K4=5 18. H7+9 Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 15: P2=3 16. H6+8 A6-5 17. K5=6 Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 14: K5=4 15. A5+4 P2=3 16. K5+1 K4+1 17. K5+1 A5+6 18. K5=6 A6-5 19. H5-4 A5+6 20. H4+2 A6-5 21. H2+1 P3=2 22. H1+3 A5-6 23. H3-4+ K4-1 24. P4+1 Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 12: A6+5 13. H7+8 P3=2 14. A5+4 P2=3 15. K6=5 P3=2 16. H8-6+ K5=4 17. P4=5 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 39 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 21: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (4)"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move P3+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.

← Previous puzzle: No. 19: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (2)Next puzzle: No. 22: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Horse and Advisor (1) →