No. 13: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and One Elephant

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Elephant.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red P6=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   1. Black E5-3

2. 2. Red H5+7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   2. Black K6+1

3. 3. Red H7+8

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   3. Black E3+1

4. 4. Red P5=6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   4. Black K6-1

5. 5. Red P6=7

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   5. Black K6+1

6. 6. Red P7=8

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   6. Black K6-1

7. 7. Red P8=9

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

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

   7. Black K6+1

8. 8. Red P9+1 (captures the Elephant)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black A5+6

9. 9. Red K5=4

   9. Black K6=5

10. 10. Red H8-6 (check)

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black K5=6

11. 11. Red P9=8

    11. Black K6-1

12. 12. Red H6+4 (captures the Advisor)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    12. Black A4+5

13. 13. Red P8=7

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black K6+1

14. 14. Red P7+1

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    14. Black A5-4

15. 15. Red P7=6

    15. Black A4+5

16. 16. Red K4=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

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

    16. Black A5-4

17. 17. Red H4+2 (threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

    Why it works

    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    17. Black A4+5

18. 18. Red P6=5 (captures the Advisor, checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

    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 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 A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 2. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black E3+1
  • If Black plays A5-6 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
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays E1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E1+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
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays E1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E1+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
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays E1-3 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
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays E1-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E1+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
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 8. Black A5+6
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black K5=6
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 11. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays A4+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black A4+5
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 14. Black A5-4
  • If Black plays A5-6 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
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black A4+5
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black A5-4
  • If Black plays A5-6 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
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with P6=5. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 10: Horse and Low Soldier Win by Rule vs Lone Horse (2)
  11 moves
• No. 11: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Elephants and One Advisor (1)
  17 moves
• No. 12: Horse and High Soldier Win by Rule vs Two Elephants and One Advisor (2)
  12 moves
• 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

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