No. 12: Two Cannons and One Elephant Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers

"No. 12: Two Cannons and One Elephant Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 22 moves; the key first move is C9-3. 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 Elephant, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red C9-3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black K5=4
1. Black K5=4
2. Red C2=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P6+1
2. Black P6+1
3. Red C9-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K4+1
3. Black K4+1
4. Red C9=6 (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=5
4. Black K4=5
5. Red -C=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black P6=5 (check)
5. Black P6=5
6. Red E7+5 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Elephant stands where it can be captured.
6. Black P5=6
6. Black P5=6
7. Red K5=4 (check)
7. Black K5=4
7. Black K5=4
8. Red C5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P6=7
8. Black P6=7
9. Red E5+7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black K4=5
9. Black K4=5
10. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black K5-1
10. Black K5-1
11. Red C6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black K5+1
11. Black K5+1
12. Red C4=5 (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.
12. Black K5=4
12. Black K5=4
13. Red +C-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P7=6 (check)
13. Black P7=6
14. Red K4=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 K4+1
14. Black K4+1
15. Red -C=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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black P6=5 (check)
15. Black P6=5
16. Red C5+2 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Black K4=5
16. Black K4=5
17. Red C6=5
17. Black K5-1
17. Black K5-1
18. Red K5=6 (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.
18. Black K5=6
18. Black K5=6
19. Red +C-2
19. Black K6-1
19. Black K6-1
20. 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.
20. Black K6+1
20. Black K6+1
21. Red +C=4 (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.
21. Black K6+1
21. Black K6+1
22. Red C5=4 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
22. Red C5=4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 2: K4+1 3. C9=6+ K4=5 4. +C=4 Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 22 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 12: Two Cannons and One Elephant Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move C9-3 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. 11: Two Cannons and One Advisor Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants Next puzzle: No. 13: Two Cannons and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Two High Soldiers →