Golden Spears and Iron Horses

Golden Spears and Iron Horses楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將

"Golden Spears and Iron Horses" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 27 moves; the key first move is H3+4. 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, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H3+4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black R5-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    1楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    1. Black R5-1
  2. 2. Red K4-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black P4=5 (check, the only legal reply)
    2楚河 漢界卒帥車俥傌將
    2. Black P4=5
  3. 3. Red K4-1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black K5-1
    3楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    3. Black K5-1
  4. 4. Red H4+2
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    4. Black K5=4
    4楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    4. Black K5=4
  5. 5. Red R4=6 (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.
    5. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
    5楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    5. Black K4=5
  6. 6. Red H2+4 (check)
    6. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    6楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    6. Black K5+1
  7. 7. Red H4-6 (check)
    7. Black K5-1 (threatens mate next move)
    7楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    7. Black K5-1
  8. 8. Red H6+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.
    8. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    8楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    8. Black K5+1
  9. 9. 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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black K5=4
    9楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    9. Black K5=4
  10. 10. Red H7-9
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black K4=5
    10楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    10. Black K4=5
  11. 11. Red H9-8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R5-5
    11楚河 漢界帥卒俥傌車將
    11. Black R5-5
  12. 12. Red H8+6 (check)
    12. Black K5=4
    12楚河 漢界帥卒俥傌車將
    12. Black K5=4
  13. 13. Red R4=6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black R5+5 (threatens mate next move)
    13楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    13. Black R5+5
  14. 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 (threatens mate next move)
    14楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    14. Black K4=5
  15. 15. Red H8+7 (check)
    15. Black K5+1 (threatens mate next move)
    15楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    15. Black K5+1
  16. 16. 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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    16. Black K5=4
    16楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    16. Black K5=4
  17. 17. Red H7+8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    17. Black R5-4
    17楚河 漢界帥卒俥車將傌
    17. Black R5-4
  18. 18. Red R4+6
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    18. Black R5-2
    18楚河 漢界帥卒將車傌俥
    18. Black R5-2
  19. 19. Red R4-3
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    19. Black R5+5
    19楚河 漢界帥卒車俥將傌
    19. Black R5+5
  20. 20. Red H8-9
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    20. Black K4-1
    20楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    20. Black K4-1
  21. 21. Red R4+2 (check)
    21. Black K4-1
    21楚河 漢界帥卒車傌俥將
    21. Black K4-1
  22. 22. Red H9+8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    22. Black R5-4
    22楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    22. Black R5-4
  23. 23. Red R4+1 (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.
    23. Black R5-2 (threatens mate next move)
    23楚河 漢界帥卒傌將車俥
    23. Black R5-2
  24. 24. 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.
    24. Black K4+1 (threatens mate next move)
    24楚河 漢界帥卒傌將車俥
    24. Black K4+1
  25. 25. Red R4=5 (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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    25. Black K4+1
    25楚河 漢界帥卒傌將俥
    25. Black K4+1
  26. 26. Red R5-8 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
    • Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    26. Black K4-1
    26楚河 漢界帥俥傌將
    26. Black K4-1
  27. 27. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    27楚河 漢界帥俥傌將
    27. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 12 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界帥俥傌將

Red wins after 27 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Golden Spears and Iron Horses"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H3+4 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: Firmness Tempered with FlexibilityNext puzzle: Chariots Gallop, Horses Charge →

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