The Usurping Horse Wins

The Usurping Horse Wins楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌俥象象將

"The Usurping Horse Wins" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 22 moves; the key first move is R6+3. 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 R6+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.
    1. Black K6+1
    1楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌象將象俥
    1. Black K6+1
  2. 2. Red R6-1 (check)
    2. Black K6+1
    2楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌象將俥象
    2. Black K6+1
  3. 3. Red H6+4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black R3=7
    3楚河 漢界仕帥仕車傌象將俥象
    3. Black R3=7
  4. 4. Red H4+2 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black R7-2
    4楚河 漢界仕帥仕象將車傌俥象
    4. Black R7-2
  5. 5. Red H2+1
    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 漢界仕帥仕車象將俥象傌
    5. Black R7+1
  6. 6. Red H1-3 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.
    6. Black R7=5 (check, the General has no escape square)
    6楚河 漢界仕帥仕車象將俥傌象
    6. Black R7=5
  7. 7. Red A6+5 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Advisor stands where it can be captured.
    7. Black E5-7
    7楚河 漢界帥仕仕車將俥傌象象
    7. Black E5-7
  8. 8. Red R6+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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black K6-1
    8楚河 漢界帥仕仕車將傌象俥象
    8. Black K6-1
  9. 9. Red R6=7 (captures the Elephant)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black R5-1
    9楚河 漢界帥仕仕車將傌俥象
    9. Black R5-1
  10. 10. Red R7=3 (captures the Elephant)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Elephant.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black R5+2
    10楚河 漢界帥仕仕車將傌俥
    10. Black R5+2
  11. 11. Red H3-2
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R5+3
    11楚河 漢界帥仕仕車傌將俥
    11. Black R5+3
  12. 12. Red H2-4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black K6=5
    12楚河 漢界帥仕仕車傌將俥
    12. Black K6=5
  13. 13. Red K5=6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black R5=1
    13楚河 漢界帥仕仕車傌將俥
    13. Black R5=1
  14. 14. Red R3-1 (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.
    14. Black K5-1
    14楚河 漢界帥仕仕車傌俥將
    14. Black K5-1
  15. 15. Red H4+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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black R1+2 (check, the only legal reply)
    15楚河 漢界車帥仕仕傌俥將
    15. Black R1+2
  16. 16. Red K6+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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black R1-1 (check)
    16楚河 漢界仕車帥仕傌俥將
    16. Black R1-1
  17. 17. Red K6+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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black R1-1 (check, the only legal reply)
    17楚河 漢界仕仕車帥傌俥將
    17. Black R1-1
  18. 18. Red K6-1 (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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    18. Black R1+1 (check)
    18楚河 漢界仕車帥仕傌俥將
    18. Black R1+1
  19. 19. Red K6-1 (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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    19. Black R1+1 (check, the only legal reply)
    19楚河 漢界車帥仕仕傌俥將
    19. Black R1+1
  20. 20. Red K6+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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    20. Black R1=4 (check)
    20楚河 漢界車仕帥仕傌俥將
    20. Black R1=4
  21. 21. Red A5-6 (captures the Chariot, 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 Chariot.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    21. Black K5=6
    21楚河 漢界仕仕帥傌俥將
    21. Black K5=6
  22. 22. Red R3=5 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    22楚河 漢界仕仕帥傌俥將
    22. Red R3=5

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界仕仕帥傌俥將

Red wins after 22 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "The Usurping Horse Wins"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R6+3 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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