B. Two Chariots and Horse Class, Game 08

B. Two Chariots and Horse Class, Game 08楚河 漢界帥仕俥車車相俥傌象士士將象

"B. Two Chariots and Horse Class, Game 08" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is H2+4. 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 Advisor, a Elephant, 2 Chariots, a Horse. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H2+4 (captures the Advisor, check)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    1. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    1楚河 漢界帥仕俥車車相俥象傌士將象
    1. Black K5=6
  2. 2. Red H4+3 (captures the Elephant, check, the only legal reply)
    Why it works
    • Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    2. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    2楚河 漢界帥仕俥車車相俥象士將傌
    2. Black K6=5
  3. 3. Red H3-4 (check)
    3. Black K5=6 (threatens mate next move)
    3楚河 漢界帥仕俥車車相俥象傌士將
    3. Black K5=6
  4. 4. Red R2+9 (check, threatens mate next move)
    Why it works
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    4. Black K6+1 (threatens mate next move)
    4楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥象傌將士俥
    4. Black K6+1
  5. 5. Red R2-1 (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.
    5. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥象傌俥士將
    5. Black K6-1
  6. 6. Red H4-2 (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.
    6. Black K6=5 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥傌象俥士將
    6. Black K6=5
  7. 7. Red H2+3 (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.
    7. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥象將傌俥士
    7. Black K5+1
  8. 8. Red R4=7
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 27 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Chariot stands where it can be captured.
    8. Black K5=4 (threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥象將傌俥士
    8. Black K5=4
  9. 9. Red H3-4 (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.
    9. Black A4+5 (threatens mate next move)
    9楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥傌象將士俥
    9. Black A4+5
  10. 10. Red R2=5 (captures the Advisor, 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.
    • Wins material: takes the Advisor.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    10. Black K4-1 (threatens mate next move)
    10楚河 漢界帥仕車車相俥傌象俥將
    10. Black K4-1
  11. 11. Red R7-5 (captures the Chariot, sacrifices 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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R4=3 (captures the Chariot)
    11楚河 漢界帥仕車相傌象俥將
    11. Black R4=3
  12. 12. Red H4+6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black R3-6
    12楚河 漢界帥仕相車傌象俥將
    12. Black R3-6
  13. 13. Red R5-1 (captures the Elephant)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 13 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13楚河 漢界帥仕相車傌俥將
    13. Red R5-1

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.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥仕相車傌俥將

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "B. Two Chariots and Horse Class, Game 08"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Chariot & Horse mates.

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H2+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.

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