No. 11: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Cannon, Advisor and Elephant

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Horses. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red H8+7 (check)

   1. Black K4-1

2. 2. Red H7+8 (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 K4+1

3. 3. Red H2+3

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   3. Black C5=6

4. 4. Red H3-5 (captures the Elephant, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black C6=5

5. 5. Red H8-7 (check)

   5. Black K4+1

6. 6. Red K5+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black A5+6 (check)

7. 7. Red H5-6

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black A6-5 (check)

8. 8. Red K5=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 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black C5=6

9. 9. Red K4+1

   Why it works–

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black A5+6 (check)

10. 10. Red K4=5

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black C6+1

11. 11. Red H7-5 (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 K4-1

12. 12. Red H5+4 (captures the Advisor, check)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    12. Black K4-1

13. 13. Red H6+7 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.

    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.

    13. Black C6=3

14. 14. Red K5-1 (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 K4-1
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 3. Black C5=6
  • If Black plays E5-7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • 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
• 4. Black C6=5
  • If Black plays A5+6 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays A5+4 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board
• 5. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 6. 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 C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 7. Black A6-5
  • If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
• 8. Black C5=6
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • 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 C5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
• 9. Black A5+6
  • If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
• 10. Black C6+1
  • If Black plays A6-5 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays C6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K4-1
  • If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• No. 8: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse, Advisor and Elephant (2)
  18 moves
• No. 9: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Advisors (1)
  7 moves
• No. 10: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Advisors (2)
  6 moves
• No. 12: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Elephants (1)
  20 moves
• No. 13: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Elephants (2)
  9 moves
• No. 14: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse and Two Elephants (3)
  27 moves

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