Chancellor Drives the Horses

Chancellor Drives the Horses楚河 漢界卒帥卒相車卒兵炮俥俥象兵兵馬車砲將兵

"Chancellor Drives the Horses" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 33 moves; the key first move is -R=4. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →

Free, in the browser, no download.

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Cannon, 4 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red -R=4 (check, the General has no escape square)
    1. Black H8+6
  2. 2. Red R1=7
    2. Black P2=3 (check, the General has no escape square)
  3. 3. Red R7-6 (captures the Soldier)
    3. Black C2=8 (captures the Soldier)
  4. 4. Red P5=4 (check)
    4. Black K6=5
  5. 5. Red C1+6 (check, the General has no escape square)
    5. Black C8+9
  6. 6. Red R4-3 (captures the Chariot)
    6. Black R1+2
  7. 7. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)
    7. Black K5=6 (captures the Soldier)
  8. 8. Red R4+5 (captures the Horse, check, the only legal reply)
    8. Black K6=5
  9. 9. Red R7+9 (check, sacrifices the Chariot)
    9. Black E5-3 (captures the Chariot)
  10. 10. Red R4=9 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices the Chariot)
    10. Black E3+1 (captures the Chariot)
  11. 11. Red C1-6
    11. Black C8-3
  12. 12. Red -P+1
    12. Black C8-3
  13. 13. Red C1=5
    13. Black P5=6
  14. 14. Red +P=4
    14. Black K5+1
  15. 15. Red P3+1
    15. Black P1=2
  16. 16. Red P3=4
    16. Black C8=4
  17. 17. Red -P=5 (check)
    17. Black K5=4
  18. 18. Red P5+1
    18. Black C4+4
  19. 19. Red P4=5
    19. Black P2=3
  20. 20. Red K6=5
    20. Black P3=4
  21. 21. Red +P+1 (check)
    21. Black K4+1
  22. 22. Red C5=1
    22. Black C4+1
  23. 23. Red C1+6
    23. Black C4=5
  24. 24. Red -P=6 (check, the only legal reply)
    24. Black K4=5
  25. 25. Red P5=6
    25. Black C5=4
  26. 26. Red -P=5 (check)
    26. Black K5=4
  27. 27. Red P6=5
    27. Black P4+1
  28. 28. Red C1=5
    28. Black E1+3
  29. 29. Red E5+7
    29. Black C4+1
  30. 30. Red C5=1
    30. Black P4+1
  31. 31. Red C1-8
    31. Black P6=5 (check, the only legal reply)
  32. 32. Red K5=4
    32. Black C4=5
  33. 33. Red C1=6 (captures the Soldier)
    33. Black C5-6 (captures the Soldier)

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥炮卒相象砲將兵

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Chancellor Drives the Horses"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move -R=4 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: Golden Cat Catches the MouseNext puzzle: Brocade Screens Face Off →

Nearby puzzles

More from Xinwu Endgame Collection →

Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文