Horse Stumbles on Its Front Hoof

"Horse Stumbles on Its Front Hoof" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is R1+5. 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, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R1+5 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
1. Black H6-8 (threatens mate next move)
1. Black H6-8
2. Red R1=2 (captures the Horse, check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black E5-7 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black E5-7
3. Red R2=3 (captures the Elephant, check, threatens mate next move, 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.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)
3. Black A5-6
4. Red P3=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 39 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R3-4 (threatens mate next move)
4. Black R3-4
5. Red R3-9 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R3=4 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
5. Black R3=4
6. Red K6=5 (captures the Cannon)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Cannon.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R4-2 (captures the Soldier)
6. Black R4-2
7. Red R3+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P9+1
7. Black P9+1
8. Red R3-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P9+1
8. Black P9+1
9. Red R3=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R4+7 (check, the only legal reply)
9. Black R4+7
10. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black R4-1 (check, the only legal reply)
10. Black R4-1
11. Red K5-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black P9=8
11. Black P9=8
12. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P8=7
12. Black P8=7
13. Red R5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black K4=5
13. Black K4=5
14. Red R4=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P7=6
14. Black P7=6
15. Red R8+7 (check, threatens mate next move, 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.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Black R4-8
15. Black R4-8
16. Red R8=6 (captures the Chariot, check, sacrifices the Chariot, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Black K5=4 (captures the Chariot)
16. Black K5=4
17. Red P5=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
17. Red P5=6

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 H6-8
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
2. Black E5-7
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
4. Black R3-4
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black R3=4
- If Black plays C5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C5-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black R4-2
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black P9+1
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black P9+1
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black R4+7
- If Black plays P9+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P9=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black R4-1
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
11. Black P9=8
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R5=6. Try it on the board
12. Black P8=7
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black K4=5
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black P7=6
- If Black plays R4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=6 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R8+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Horse Stumbles on Its Front Hoof"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R1+5 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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