No. 14: Two Cannons and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Advisors

"No. 14: Two Cannons and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Advisors" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 24 moves; the key first move is C1=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, 2 Advisors, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Horse.

Solution move by move

1. Red C1=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black H7-6
1. Black H7-6
2. Red K5-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black K4=5
2. Black K4=5
3. Red K5=4 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K5=6
3. Black K5=6
4. Red A4-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black K6=5
4. Black K6=5
5. Red A5-6 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K5=4
5. Black K5=4
6. Red C5+6 (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 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black H6+5
6. Black H6+5
7. Red +A-5 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black H5-4
7. Black H5-4
8. Red C5-4
8. Black A5+6
8. Black A5+6
9. Red C5=6
9. Black K4=5
9. Black K4=5
10. Red -C+5 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black A4-5
10. Black A4-5
11. Red +C=5 (check)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black A5+4
11. Black A5+4
12. Red C6-1
12. Black K5=6
12. Black K5=6
13. Red A5+6
13. Black K6=5
13. Black K6=5
14. Red C6+6 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
14. Black K5=4
14. Black K5=4
15. Red C5-6
15. Black K4+1
15. Black K4+1
16. Red C6=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black K4=5
16. Black K4=5
17. Red C7-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Black K5-1
17. Black K5-1
18. Red C7=5 (check)
18. Black K5=4
18. Black K5=4
19. Red K4+1
19. Black K4+1
19. Black K4+1
20. Red K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
20. Black A6-5
20. Black A6-5
21. Red +C+7 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
21. Black K4-1
21. Black K4-1
22. Red +C=4 (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 K4+1
22. Black K4+1
23. Red -A+5 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
23. Black K4+1
23. Black K4+1
24. Red C5=6 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
24. Red C5=6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 3 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 2: K4+1 3. K5=4 A5-6 4. A6-5+ H6+4 5. C5=6 Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 4: 4. C5+6 H6+5 5. C6+6 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 3: K4-1 4. C5+6 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 24 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 14: Two Cannons and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Advisors"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C1=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. 13: Two Cannons and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers Next puzzle: No. 15: Two Cannons and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Cannon and Two Advisors →