Winning Against Chariot and Two Elephants

Winning Against Chariot and Two Elephants楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌象將俥象

"Winning Against Chariot and Two Elephants" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 21 moves; the key first move is R4-1. 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 Advisors, a Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red R4-1 (check)
    1. Black K4-1
    1楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌象俥將象
    1. Black K4-1
  2. 2. Red H6-4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.
    2. Black E5+3
    2楚河 漢界仕帥仕象傌車俥將象
    2. Black E5+3
  3. 3. Red H4+6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black R7-2
    3楚河 漢界仕帥仕象傌車俥將象
    3. Black R7-2
  4. 4. Red H6+7
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black E3-5
    4楚河 漢界仕帥仕象車傌俥將象
    4. Black E3-5
  5. 5. Red R4=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    5. Black R7+1
    5楚河 漢界仕帥仕車象傌俥將象
    5. Black R7+1
  6. 6. Red R5+1 (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.
    6. Black K4+1
    6楚河 漢界仕帥仕車象傌將俥象
    6. Black K4+1
  7. 7. Red H7-9
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black R7=5 (check, the General has no escape square)
    7楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌象將俥象
    7. Black R7=5
  8. 8. Red A6+5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Advisor stands where it can be captured.
    8. Black R5=2
    8楚河 漢界帥仕仕車傌象將俥象
    8. Black R5=2
  9. 9. Red H9+8 (check, sacrifices the Horse)
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Gives up the Horse; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
    9. Black R2-3 (captures the Horse)
    9楚河 漢界帥仕仕象將車俥象
    9. Black R2-3
  10. 10. Red R5=8 (captures the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black K4=5
    10楚河 漢界帥仕仕象將俥象
    10. Black K4=5
  11. 11. Red A5+4
    11. Black E7+9
    11楚河 漢界帥仕仕象象將俥
    11. Black E7+9
  12. 12. Red R8=1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black E9+7
    12楚河 漢界帥仕仕象象將俥
    12. Black E9+7
  13. 13. Red R1-3
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black K5=6
    13楚河 漢界帥仕仕象俥象將
    13. Black K5=6
  14. 14. Red R1=5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    14. Black K6=5
    14楚河 漢界帥仕仕象俥象將
    14. Black K6=5
  15. 15. Red R5-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black K5=4
    15楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥象象將
    15. Black K5=4
  16. 16. Red R5=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.
    16. Black K4=5
    16楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥象象將
    16. Black K4=5
  17. 17. Red R6=3 (captures the Elephant)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    17. Black K5=4
    17楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥象將
    17. Black K5=4
  18. 18. Red R3=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.
    18. Black K4=5
    18楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥象將
    18. Black K4=5
  19. 19. Red R6=5
    19. Black K5=4
    19楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥象將
    19. Black K5=4
  20. 20. Red R5+2 (captures the Elephant, 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.
    20. Black K4-1
    20楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥將
    20. Black K4-1
  21. 21. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    21楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥將
    21. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 4 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥仕仕俥將

Red wins after 21 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Winning Against Chariot and Two Elephants"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R4-1 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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