Horse and Chariot Before the King

"Horse and Chariot Before the King" 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 R4+5. 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. Red R4+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.
1. Black K4+1
1. Black K4+1
2. Red H7-8 (check)
2. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
2. Black K4=5
3. Red H8-6 (check)
3. Black K5=4
3. Black K5=4
4. Red R4-6 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R8+2 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
4. Black R8+2
5. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black R8-9
5. Black R8-9
6. Red R4=6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black R8+8 (check)
6. Black R8+8
7. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black R8=5
7. Black R8=5
8. Red R6+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black P4=3
8. Black P4=3
9. Red H6+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.
9. Black K4=5
9. Black K4=5
10. Red R6+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.
10. Black K5+1
10. Black K5+1
11. 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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black R5-1 (check, the only legal reply)
11. Black R5-1
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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black R5+1 (check)
12. Black R5+1
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 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black R5-1 (check, the only legal reply)
13. Black R5-1
14. 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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black R5=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
14. Black R5=6
15. Red K4+1 (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 forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Black P3+1
15. Black P3+1
16. Red H2-3 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Red H2-3

Variations and alternative defences

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

Variation 2, from move 8: R5=7 9. H6+8+ K4=5 10. R6=5# Try it on the board
Variation 3, from move 6: R8=6+ 7. H6+4+ K4=5 8. R6=5+ K5=6 9. R5=4 Try it on the board
Variation 4, from move 4: K4+1 5. H6+8 K4=5 6. R4=5+ K5=4 7. H8+7+ K4-1 8. R5=6# Try it on the board
Variation 5, from move 8: 8. H6+4+ K4=5 9. R6+5+ K5+1 10. H4+2 R5-1+ 11. K4-1 P4=5+ 12. K4-1 R5=6# 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 "Horse and Chariot Before the King"?

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 R4+5 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 Close the Net Next puzzle: Spurring the Horse, Flying Chariot →

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