Chariots and Horses Gallop Across

Pieces on the board

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

Solution move by move

1. 1. Red R2+9 (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 E5-7 (threatens mate next move)

2. 2. 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.

   2. Black A5-6 (threatens mate next move)

3. 3. Red R3=4 (captures the Advisor, 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 Advisor.
   • 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 R5-8 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)

4. 4. Red R4-8 (captures the Horse, check, the General has no escape square)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Horse.
   • Takes away the General's escape squares.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   4. Black R5+9 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

5. 5. Red K6=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   5. Black +P=6 (check)

6. 6. Red R4-1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   6. Black R1+3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)

7. 7. Red K5+1 (threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   7. Black R1=6 (captures the Chariot)

8. 8. Red C1-3 (threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   8. Black P3=4 (check)

9. 9. Red K5+1 (threatens mate next move)

   Why it works

   • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

   What to watch out for

   • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

   9. Black R6=5 (check)

10. 10. Red K5=4 (threatens mate next move)

    Why it works

    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    10. Black R5-6

11. 11. Red H6+4 (check)

    11. Black R5-2

12. 12. Red P7=6 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.

    12. Black K4+1 (captures the Soldier)

13. 13. Red C1+2

    Why it works–

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

    13. Black P7+1 (captures the Soldier)

14. 14. Red E1+3 (captures the Soldier)

    Why it works

    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.

    What to watch out for

    • Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.

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 E5-7
  • If Black plays A5-6 instead: Red mates immediately with R2=4. Try it on the board
• 4. Black R5+9
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 5. Black +P=6
  • If Black plays +P=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+8. Try it on the board
• 6. Black R1+3
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
• 7. Black R1=6
  • If Black plays R1=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=4 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R1-2 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+9. Try it on the board
• 8. Black P3=4
  • If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+4. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
• 9. Black R6=5
  • If Black plays R6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R6=2 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
• 10. Black R5-6
  • If Black plays R5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=7 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=8 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=9 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=4 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays R5=3 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=6. Try it on the board
• 11. Black R5-2
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 12. Black K4+1
  • If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
• 13. Black P7+1
  • If Black plays P2+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P2=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
  • If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Nearby puzzles

• Marching and Deploying Troops
  13 moves
• Red Hare, the Fine Steed
  24 moves
• Yuechang Submits as a Guest
  15 moves
• Scorning Wealth, Cherishing Friends
  15 moves
• Unload Your Cargo
  16 moves
• Great Merit of the Chief Ministers
  18 moves

More from Xinwu Endgame Collection →

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