No. 6: Two Horses and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Soldiers and Two Elephants

"No. 6: Two Horses and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Soldiers and Two Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 8 moves; the key first move is H1+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 Horses. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H1+3 (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.
1. Black K6+1
1. Black K6+1
2. Red H7-8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P5=4
2. Black P5=4
3. Red H8+6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black P4+1
3. Black P4+1
4. Red H6+8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black P6+1
4. Black P6+1
5. Red H8+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.
5. Black K6+1
5. Black K6+1
6. Red H3-1 (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 P6+1 (check, the only legal reply)
6. Black P6+1
7. Red K4=5 (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 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P4+1 (threatens mate next move)
7. Black P4+1
8. Red H1+2 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Red H1+2

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.

2. Black P5=4
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 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 K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 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
- If Black plays E3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black P6+1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 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 K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black P6+1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board
7. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H1+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5-7 instead: Red mates immediately with H1-3. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 8 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 6: Two Horses and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Soldiers and Two Elephants"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H1+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. 5: Two Horses and Elephant Win by Rule vs Two Soldiers and Two Advisors Next puzzle: No. 7: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Horse, Advisor and Elephant (1) →