No. 12: Three Soldiers Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants

"No. 12: Three Soldiers Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 7 moves; the key first move is K5=6. 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, 3 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants.

Solution move by move

1. Red K5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black K4=5
1. Black K4=5
2. Red P5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black E3-1
2. Black E3-1
3. Red P7=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 E1+3
3. Black E1+3
4. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black E3-1
4. Black E3-1
5. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black E1+3
5. Black E1+3
6. Red -P+1 (captures the Advisor, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black A5+4 (captures the Soldier)
6. Black A5+4
7. Red P4+1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Red P4+1

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 E3-1 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 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
2. Black E3-1
- 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
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black E1+3
- If Black plays E1-3 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 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 E3-1
- If Black plays E5+7 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
5. Black E1+3
- If Black plays E1-3 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 A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. 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: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
6. Black A5+4
- If Black plays E3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E5+7 instead: Red mates immediately with P4=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. 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: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 7 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 12: Three Soldiers Win by Rule vs Full Advisors and Elephants"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move K5=6 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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