No. 7: Two Cannons Win by Rule vs Advisor and Elephant

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red C7=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   1. Black K5-1

2. 2. Red C8=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.

   2. Black K5=6

3. 3. Red +C-5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black K6+1

4. 4. Red K6+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black K6-1

5. 5. Red K6=5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black E7-9

6. 6. Red +C=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

   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.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

   6. Black A6-5

7. 7. Red C5+8 (captures the Advisor)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black K6=5

8. 8. Red C5-5

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black E9+7

9. 9. Red K5=6

   9. Black E7-9

10. 10. Red C5-3

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black E9+7

11. 11. 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.

    11. Black K5=6

12. 12. Red K6=5

    12. Black K6+1

13. 13. Red +C=4 (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.

    13. Black E7-5

14. 14. Red C5+7 (captures the Elephant)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    14. Black K6=5

15. 15. Red C4-1

    15. Black K5-1

16. 16. Red C5+1

    16. Black K5=4

17. 17. Red C5=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.

    17. Black K4+1

18. 18. Red +C=2

    18. Black K4-1

19. 19. Red C4+8 (checkmate)

    Why it works

    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

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 K5-1
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C8=5. Try it on the board
• 3. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 4. Black K6-1
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black E7-9
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A6-5 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
• 7. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E9+7 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
• 8. Black E9+7
  • If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 9. Black E7-9
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 10. Black E9+7
  • If Black plays E9-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K6+1
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E7-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black E7-5
  • If Black plays E7-9 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
• 14. Black K6=5
  • If Black plays K6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 15. Black K5-1
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 16. Black K5=4
  • If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 18. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with C4+8. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 4: Cannon and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Single Soldier
  5 moves
• No. 5: Cannon and Two Advisors Win by Rule vs Elephant and High Soldier
  6 moves
• No. 6: Two Cannons Win by Rule vs Two Advisors
  4 moves
• No. 8: Two Cannons and Two Elephants Win by Rule vs Two Elephants (1)
  6 moves
• No. 9: Two Cannons and Two Elephants Win by Rule vs Two Elephants (2)
  21 moves
• No. 10: Two Cannons and Two Elephants Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants
  10 moves

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