No. 4: Horse and Bottom Soldier Win by Rule vs Advisor and Elephant (2)

"No. 4: Horse and Bottom Soldier Win by Rule vs Advisor and Elephant (2)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 26 moves; the key first move is H5+6. 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 Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant.

Solution move by move

1. Red H5+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black K4+1
1. Black K4+1
2. Red H6+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black A5+6
2. Black A5+6
3. Red P5=4
3. Black E9+7
3. Black E9+7
4. Red H8-7 (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.
4. Black K4-1
4. Black K4-1
5. Red H7+5 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K4=5
5. Black K4=5
6. Red K5=6
6. Black E7-5
6. Black E7-5
7. Red H5+7 (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.
7. Black K5=6
7. Black K5=6
8. Red H7+6 (check)
8. Black K6=5
8. Black K6=5
9. Red K6=5 (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.
9. Black K5=4
9. Black K5=4
10. Red H6-8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black E5+7
10. Black E5+7
11. Red H8-7 (check)
11. Black K4+1
11. Black K4+1
12. Red H7-5 (check)
12. Black K4=5
12. Black K4=5
13. Red K5=6
13. Black A6-5
13. Black A6-5
14. Red P4=5
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+6
14. Black A5+6
15. Red H5+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.
15. Black K5-1
15. Black K5-1
16. Red P5=4
16. Black E7-5
16. Black E7-5
17. Red K6=5 (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.
17. Black K5=4
17. Black K5=4
18. Red H3+5 (captures the Elephant)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
18. Black K4=5
18. Black K4=5
19. Red K5+1
19. Black K5=6
19. Black K5=6
20. Red H5-4
20. Black K6-1 (captures the Soldier)
20. Black K6-1
21. Red H4+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.
21. Black K6+1
21. Black K6+1
22. Red K5-1 (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.
22. Black A6-5
22. Black A6-5
23. Red H3+5 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
23. Black K6+1
23. Black K6+1
24. Red H5-4 (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.
24. Black K6-1
24. Black K6-1
25. Red K5+1
25. Black K6+1
25. Black K6+1
26. Red H4+6 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
26. Red H4+6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 4 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 10: E5+3 11. H8-7+ K4+1 12. P4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 6: E7-9 7. K6+1 K5+1 8. H5-4 E9+7 9. H4+3+ K5-1 10. K6-1 E7-5 11. K6=5 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 5: E7-5 6. H5-6 E5+7 Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 6: E5+3 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 26 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 4: Horse and Bottom Soldier Win by Rule vs Advisor and Elephant (2)"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H5+6 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. 3: Horse and Bottom Soldier Win by Rule vs Advisor and Elephant (1)Next puzzle: No. 6: Horse and Low Soldier Win by Rule vs High Soldier and Two Elephants →