No. 10: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Horse

"No. 10: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Horse" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 12 moves; the key first move is R5+7. 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 Chariot, a Cannon. Black has a General, a Chariot, a Horse.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5+7 (check, 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.
1. Black K6+1
1. Black K6+1
2. Red R5-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R6+5 (check, the only legal reply)
2. Black R6+5
3. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black H7+6 (check)
3. Black H7+6
4. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R6-1 (check)
4. Black R6-1
5. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black H6+7
5. Black H6+7
6. Red R5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R6=2
6. Black R6=2
7. Red R5-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R2-1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black R2-1
8. Red K6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black H7+5
8. Black H7+5
9. 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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black H5-7
9. Black H5-7
10. Red C6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 25 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R2=5 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
10. Black R2=5
11. Red R5-1 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black H7-5 (captures the Chariot)
11. Black H7-5
12. Red K5+1 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
12. Red K5+1

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 R6+5
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black H7+6
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black R6-1
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black H6+7
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black R6=2
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black R2-1
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black H7+5
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black H5-7
- If Black plays H5-3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R2-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R2=5
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
11. Black H7-5
- If Black plays H7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7+5 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H7-6 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 10: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Horse"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R5+7 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. 9: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and High Soldier Next puzzle: No. 11: Chariot and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Draw by Rule vs Chariot, Horse and Two Elephants →