93. Horse and Chariot Roam Freely

"93. Horse and Chariot Roam Freely" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is H7-8. 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, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, a Horse, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, a Chariot, 2 Horses, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red H7-8 (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.
1. Black K4+1
1. Black K4+1
2. Red H8-7 (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.
2. Black K4-1
2. Black K4-1
3. Red H7+5 (check)
3. Black K4+1
3. Black K4+1
4. Red H5+4 (check)
4. Black A6+5
4. Black A6+5
5. Red H4-2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black A5+6
5. Black A5+6
6. Red R5=7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black K4-1
6. Black K4-1
7. Red R7+3 (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.
7. Black K4+1
7. Black K4+1
8. Red H2-4 (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.
8. Black K4=5
8. Black K4=5
9. Red R7=6 (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.
9. Black A6-5
9. Black A6-5
10. Red R6-4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 24 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black K5=6
10. Black K5=6
11. Red R6=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.
11. Black K6=5
11. Black K6=5
12. Red H4-6 (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.
12. Black K5=4
12. Black K5=4
13. Red R4=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R5-1 (captures the Elephant)
13. Black R5-1
14. Red H6+8 (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.
14. Black K4=5
14. Black K4=5
15. Red H8+7 (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.
15. Black K5=6
15. Black K5=6
16. Red R6=4 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Red R6=4

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 11 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 6: K4=5 7. H2-4 K5-1 8. R7+3+ K5-1 9. H4+6+ K5=6 10. R7=4# Try it on the board
Variation 2, from move 8: K5+1 9. R7=6 Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 6: A4+5 7. R7=6+ K4=5 8. H2-4 Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 4: A4+5 5. R5=7 K4=5 6. R7+2+ A5+4 7. H4-6 K5-1 8. R7+1+ K5+1 9. H6+7 K5=6 10. R7-1+ K6-1 11. R7-2 A6+5 12. R7=4+ A5+6 13. R4=5 Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 4: K4-1 5. R5=7 K4=5 6. R7+3+ K5+1 7. H4+6+ K5=4 8. R7=4 Try it on the board
Variation 6, from move 2: 2. R5=7 K4=5 3. H8-6 K5=4 4. H6-4 K4-1 5. R7+3+ K4+1 6. R7-2 K4-1 7. R7=6+ K4=5 8. R6=5+ K5=4 9. H4-6 A4+5 10. R5=8 A5+4 11. R8+2+ K4-1 12. R8+1+ K4+1 13. R8=5 A4-5 14. H6+7+ K4+1 15. R5=8 Try it on the board
Variation 7, from move 10: A5+6 11. R8+2+ K4-1 12. H6+5 K4=5 13. H5+7 Try it on the board
Variation 8, from move 8: K5=6 9. H4+6 Try it on the board
Variation 9, from move 1: 1. R5+2 A4+5 2. R5=9 R5=1 3. P8=9 R1=2 4. R9+1+ K4-1 5. R9+1 K4+1 Try it on the board
Variation 10, from move 3: K4=5 4. H5+7+ Try it on the board
Variation 11, from move 10: H5-3 11. H4-6+ K5=4 12. H6+8+ K4=5 13. H8+7+ Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 16 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "93. Horse and Chariot Roam Freely"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H7-8 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: 92. Horse and Chariot Before the King Next puzzle: 94. Brilliant Chariot and Horse Mate →

Nearby puzzles

Chariot Hidden Behind the Horse
10 moves
91. Chariot and Horse Tie Down the King
9 moves
92. Horse and Chariot Before the King
9 moves
94. Brilliant Chariot and Horse Mate
10 moves
No. 95: Forcing the King Up High
16 moves
96 Light Chariot, Few Attendants
11 moves