No. 4: High and Low Soldiers Win by Rule vs Two Elephants, Two Soldiers Beat Two Elephants

"No. 4: High and Low Soldiers Win by Rule vs Two Elephants, Two Soldiers Beat Two Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Practical Endgames. Red moves first and wins in 10 moves; the key first move is P8=7. 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 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants.

Solution move by move

1. Red P8=7 (check)
1. Black K4=5
1. Black K4=5
2. Red P6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black E5-7
2. Black E5-7
3. 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.
3. Black -E+5
3. Black -E+5
4. Red P7=6 (check)
4. Black K5=6
4. Black K5=6
5. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black E5+3
5. Black E5+3
6. Red P5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black E3-5
6. Black E3-5
7. Red K5=4
7. Black E5+3
7. Black E5+3
8. Red P4+1 (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.
8. Black K6-1
8. Black K6-1
9. Red P4+1 (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.
9. Black K6=5
9. Black K6=5
10. Red P4+1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. 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 K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black E5-7
- If Black plays E7-9 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 E5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black -E+5
- If Black plays +E-9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +E-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -E+9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K5=6
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black E5+3
- If Black plays E7-9 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 K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black E3-5
- If Black plays E3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7-9 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
7. Black E5+3
- If Black plays E7-9 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

Final position

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 4: High and Low Soldiers Win by Rule vs Two Elephants, Two Soldiers Beat Two Elephants"?

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 P8=7 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. 3: High and Low Soldiers Win by Rule vs Two Advisors and Two Soldiers Next puzzle: No. 5: Two High Soldiers and Elephant Win by Rule vs Soldier and Elephant →