Horse Checks in Front of the Chariot

Horse Checks in Front of the Chariot楚河 漢界帥車卒俥傌將

"Horse Checks in Front of the Chariot" 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 H4+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, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

  1. 1. Red H4+5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    1. Black K5-1
    1楚河 漢界帥車卒俥傌將
    1. Black K5-1
  2. 2. Red R4=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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    2. Black K5=4
    2楚河 漢界帥車卒俥傌將
    2. Black K5=4
  3. 3. Red R5=8
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    3. Black K4=5
    3楚河 漢界帥車卒俥傌將
    3. Black K4=5
  4. 4. Red R8+7 (check, 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.
    4. Black K5+1
    4楚河 漢界帥車卒傌將俥
    4. Black K5+1
  5. 5. Red H5+3 (check)
    5. Black K5=4
    5楚河 漢界帥車卒傌將俥
    5. Black K5=4
  6. 6. Red R8-2
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    6. Black R3+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    6楚河 漢界車帥卒俥傌將
    6. Black R3+1
  7. 7. 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.
    7. Black R3=5
    7楚河 漢界車卒帥俥傌將
    7. Black R3=5
  8. 8. Red R8-1 (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 22 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    8. Black R5-1 (check)
    8楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    8. Black R5-1
  9. 9. 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.
    9. Black K4-1
    9楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    9. Black K4-1
  10. 10. Red R8=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.
    10. Black K4=5
    10楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    10. Black K4=5
  11. 11. 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 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    11. Black R5-1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    11楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    11. Black R5-1
  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 20 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black P4=5 (check, the only legal reply)
    12楚河 漢界卒帥車俥傌將
    12. Black P4=5
  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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black K5=4
    13楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    13. Black K5=4
  14. 14. Red H3-5 (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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.
    14. Black K4=5
    14楚河 漢界帥卒車傌俥將
    14. Black K4=5
  15. 15. Red H5+7 (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.
    15. Black P5+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    15楚河 漢界卒帥車俥傌將
    15. Black P5+1
  16. 16. 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.
    16. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
    16楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    16. Black R5+1
  17. 17. 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.
    17. Black R5-1 (check, the only legal reply)
    17楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    17. Black R5-1
  18. 18. 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.
    18. Black R5+1 (check, the only legal reply)
    18楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    18. Black R5+1
  19. 19. 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.
    19. Black R5=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    19楚河 漢界卒車帥俥傌將
    19. Black R5=6
  20. 20. 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.
    20. Black P5=4
    20楚河 漢界卒帥俥傌將
    20. Black P5=4
  21. 21. Red R4=5 (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 R4=5

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 "Horse Checks in Front of the Chariot"?

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 H4+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: Parry the Mate, Return the MateNext puzzle: Chariot and Horse Bully the Chariot →

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