No. 3: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Advisor

"No. 3: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Advisor" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is K6=5. 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 Advisor, a Chariot.

Solution move by move

1. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black A5+4
1. Black A5+4
2. Red C1+5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black R6-2
2. Black R6-2
3. Red R5-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black R6+7 (check, the only legal reply)
3. Black R6+7
4. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R6-7
4. Black R6-7
5. Red C1-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R6=7
5. Black R6=7
6. Red C1=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Cannon stands where it can be captured.
6. Black R7=8
6. Black R7=8
7. Red C3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R8+5
7. Black R8+5

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 2: 2. C1=8 R6-2 3. C8+3 R6+4 4. R5+1 R6-2 5. R5=6 R6=5+ 6. K5=6 K6=5 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 3: 3. R5+3 R6=7 4. K5=6 Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 3: Chariot and Cannon Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Advisor"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move K6=5 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. 2: Chariot and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Draw by Rule vs Horse and Cannon with Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 4: Chariot, Cannon and Elephant Draw by Rule vs Chariot and Two Advisors →