Chariot and Horse Cut Off the Supplies

"Chariot and Horse Cut Off the Supplies" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 12 moves; the key first move is R3=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, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Horses, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R3=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black A4+5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
1. Black A4+5
2. Red R7=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Chariot, 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
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black K5+1 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
2. Black K5+1
3. Red C1=5 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black E5+7 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
3. Black E5+7
4. Red C5-5 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black E7-5
4. Black E7-5
5. Red E5+3 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black E5+7
5. Black E5+7
6. Red E3-5 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black E7-5
6. Black E7-5
7. Red E5+7 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
7. Black E5+7
7. Black E5+7
8. Red E7-5 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black E7-5
8. Black E7-5
9. Red E5-3 (captures the Soldier, check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
9. Black E5+7
9. Black E5+7
10. Red E3+5 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
10. Black E7-5
10. Black E7-5
11. Red E5-7 (check, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
11. Black E5+7
11. Black E5+7
12. Red C5=8
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Red C5=8

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 A4+5
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
2. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with C1=4. Try it on the board
3. Black E5+7
- 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
4. Black E7-5
- If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black E5+7
- 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
6. Black E7-5
- If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black E5+7
- 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
8. Black E7-5
- If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black E5+7
- 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
10. Black E7-5
- If Black plays E3+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black E5+7
- 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

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Chariot and Horse Cut Off the Supplies"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Hundred Game Manual.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R3=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.

← Previous puzzle: Tian Dan Sweeps the Formation Next puzzle: Chariot and Horse at the Gate →

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