No. 8: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Low Soldier

"No. 8: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Low Soldier" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is C4=2. 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 Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red C4=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black R4+1 (check, the only legal reply)
1. Black R4+1
2. Red K5-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P6+1 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black P6+1
3. Red C2-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P6=7
3. Black P6=7
4. Red C2=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black P7+1
4. Black P7+1
5. Red R5-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Red R5-2

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 R4+1
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black P6+1
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
3. Black P6=7
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black P7+1
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 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. 8: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Low Soldier"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C4=2 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. 7: Chariot and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Draw by Rule vs Chariot with Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 9: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and High Soldier →