No. 4: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants (2)

"No. 4: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants (2)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 4 moves; the key first move is H7+8. 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, 2 Horses. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants.

Solution move by move

1. Red H7+8 (check)
1. Black K4=5
1. Black K4=5
2. Red H6+7 (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.
2. Black K5=4
2. Black K5=4
3. Red H7-5 (captures the Elephant, check)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black K4=5
3. Black K4=5
4. Red H5+3 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Red H5+3

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=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
3. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-7. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 4 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 4: Two Horses Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants (2)"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H7+8 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.

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