Advance and Retreat with Measure

Advance and Retreat with Measure楚河 漢界帥卒車卒俥傌將

"Advance and Retreat with Measure" 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 H6+8. 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 Chariot, a Horse. Black has a General, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H6+8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black R9+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    1楚河 漢界帥車卒卒俥傌將
    1. Black R9+1
  2. 2. Red K4+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black R9-9
    2楚河 漢界卒帥卒俥傌將車
    2. Black R9-9
  3. 3. 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.
    3. Black K4-1
    3楚河 漢界卒帥卒俥傌將車
    3. Black K4-1
  4. 4. Red H7+5 (check)
    4. Black K4+1
    4楚河 漢界卒帥卒俥傌將車
    4. Black K4+1
  5. 5. Red H5+4 (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.
    5. Black K4-1
    5楚河 漢界卒帥卒俥將傌車
    5. Black K4-1
  6. 6. Red R5=8 (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.
    6. Black R9+8 (check)
    6楚河 漢界卒帥車卒俥將傌
    6. Black R9+8
  7. 7. Red K4-1 (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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black K4=5
    7楚河 漢界帥卒車卒俥將傌
    7. Black K4=5
  8. 8. Red R8+4 (check)
    8. Black K5-1
    8楚河 漢界帥卒車卒俥傌將
    8. Black K5-1
  9. 9. 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.
    9. Black K5=4
    9楚河 漢界帥卒車卒傌俥將
    9. Black K5=4
  10. 10. Red R8=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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black R9+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    10楚河 漢界帥車卒卒傌俥將
    10. Black R9+1
  11. 11. Red K4+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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R9-1 (check)
    11楚河 漢界卒帥車卒傌俥將
    11. Black R9-1
  12. 12. Red K4-1 (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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black R9+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    12楚河 漢界帥車卒卒傌俥將
    12. Black R9+1
  13. 13. Red K4+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 23 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black R9=3
    13楚河 漢界車卒帥卒傌俥將
    13. Black R9=3
  14. 14. Red H6+8 (check, 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.
    • Takes away the General's escape squares.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    14. Black R3-8
    14楚河 漢界卒帥卒傌車俥將
    14. Black R3-8
  15. 15. Red R5=7 (captures 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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    15. Black K4=5
    15楚河 漢界卒帥卒傌俥將
    15. Black K4=5
  16. 16. Red R7-5 (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 7 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black K5+1
    16楚河 漢界卒帥俥卒傌將
    16. Black K5+1
  17. 17. Red R7=3 (captures the Soldier)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Soldier.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black P4=3
    17楚河 漢界卒帥俥傌將
    17. Black P4=3
  18. 18. Red R3=6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    18. Black P3=2
    18楚河 漢界卒帥俥傌將
    18. Black P3=2
  19. 19. Red R6=5 (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.
    19. Black K5=4
    19楚河 漢界卒帥俥傌將
    19. Black K5=4
  20. 20. Red K4=5 (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.
    20. Black P2=3
    20楚河 漢界卒帥俥傌將
    20. Black P2=3
  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 漢界卒帥俥傌將
    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 漢界卒帥俥傌將

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Advance and Retreat with Measure"?

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 H6+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: Chariot and Horse on One LineNext puzzle: Before the Saddle, Behind the Horse →

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