No. 2: Cannon and Advisor Win by Rule vs Single Advisor

"No. 2: Cannon and Advisor Win by Rule vs Single Advisor" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 10 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 Advisor, a Cannon. Black has a General, a Advisor.

Solution move by move

1. Red K6=5
1. Black K5=4
1. Black K5=4
2. Red C3=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black A5+6
2. Black A5+6
3. Red A4-5
3. Black A6-5
3. Black A6-5
4. Red A5+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black A5+4
4. Black A5+4
5. Red C5=6 (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.
5. Black K4+1
5. Black K4+1
6. Red C6+1 (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.
6. Black K4-1
6. Black K4-1
7. Red C6+6 (captures the Advisor, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black K4+1
7. Black K4+1
8. Red C6=8
8. Black K4-1
8. Black K4-1
9. Red C8-6 (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.
9. Black K4+1
9. Black K4+1
10. Red C8=6 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. Red C8=6

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=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black A5+6
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black A6-5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black A5+4
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+6 instead: Red mates immediately with C5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black K4-1
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 10 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 2: Cannon and Advisor Win by Rule vs Single Advisor"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

10 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. 1: Cannon and Advisor Win by Rule vs Single Elephant Next puzzle: No. 3: Cannon and Advisor Win by Rule vs Two Advisors →