No. 17: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Low Soldier, Two Elephants and One Advisor

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, 2 Elephants, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P7+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black K4+1

2. 2. Red P7+1 (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.

   2. Black K4-1

3. 3. Red H5+7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black K4=5

4. 4. Red P7=6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black E5-7

5. 5. Red H7-5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black -E+5

6. 6. Red H5-3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black A5+6

7. 7. Red H3+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black P7=8

8. 8. Red H1+2

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   8. Black P8=7

9. 9. Red H2+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   9. Black P7=8

10. 10. Red H1-3 (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.

    10. Black K5=6

11. 11. Red P6=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    11. Black P8=7

12. 12. Red H3-2

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    12. Black P7=8

13. 13. Red H2+1 (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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black P8+1

14. 14. Red H1-3 (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.

• 1. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 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
• 3. Black K4=5
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 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
• 4. Black E5-7
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black -E+5
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +E-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays +E-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+4. Try it on the board
• 6. Black A5+6
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 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
• 7. Black P7=8
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 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 A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P8=7
  • If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=9 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 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 A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black P7=8
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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 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 A6-5 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
• 11. Black P8=7
  • If Black plays P8+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=9 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 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
• 12. Black P7=8
  • If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P7=6 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
• 13. Black P8+1
  • If Black plays P8=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P8=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 14: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs High Soldier, Advisor and Elephant
  19 moves
• No. 15: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers and Advisor
  18 moves
• No. 16: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers and Two Elephants
  8 moves
• No. 18: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (1)
  9 moves
• No. 20: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (3)
  24 moves
• No. 19: Horse, High Soldier and Advisor Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Advisors (2)
  10 moves

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