Impossible to Cover Both

Impossible to Cover Both楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將

"Impossible to Cover Both" 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 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 (check)
    1. Black K4=5
    1楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    1. Black K4=5
  2. 2. Red H4-5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    • The Horse stands where it can be captured.
    2. Black R5=7
    2楚河 漢界帥卒車俥傌將
    2. Black R5=7
  3. 3. Red R7+3 (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 K5+1
    3楚河 漢界帥卒車傌將俥
    3. Black K5+1
  4. 4. Red H5+7 (check)
    4. Black K5+1
    4楚河 漢界帥卒車傌將俥
    4. Black K5+1
  5. 5. Red R7=5 (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 K5=4
    5楚河 漢界帥卒車傌將俥
    5. Black K5=4
  6. 6. Red H7-6 (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.
    6. Black K4-1
    6楚河 漢界帥卒車傌將俥
    6. Black K4-1
  7. 7. Red H6+5
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    7. Black R7+1 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
    7楚河 漢界帥車卒傌將俥
    7. Black R7+1
  8. 8. 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.
    8. Black R7=3
    8楚河 漢界車卒帥傌將俥
    8. Black R7=3
  9. 9. Red H5+4
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    9. Black R3-1
    9楚河 漢界車卒帥將俥傌
    9. Black R3-1
  10. 10. Red K4+1
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    10. Black R3+1
    10楚河 漢界車卒帥將俥傌
    10. Black R3+1
  11. 11. Red R5=7 (check)
    11. Black K4=5 (threatens mate next move)
    11楚河 漢界車卒帥將俥傌
    11. Black K4=5
  12. 12. Red R7-9 (captures the Chariot)
    Why it works
    • Wins material: takes the Chariot.
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    12. Black K5-1
    12楚河 漢界俥卒帥將傌
    12. Black K5-1
  13. 13. Red R7+7
    Why it works–
    What to watch out for
    • Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
    13. Black P4+1
    13楚河 漢界卒帥俥將傌
    13. Black P4+1
  14. 14. Red R7=5 (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=4
    14楚河 漢界卒帥俥將傌
    14. Black K5=4
  15. 15. 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.
    15. Black P4=3
    15楚河 漢界卒帥俥將傌
    15. Black P4=3
  16. 16. Red R5=6 (checkmate)
    Why it works
    • Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
    What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
    16楚河 漢界卒帥俥將傌
    16. Red R5=6

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 2 variations. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Final position

Final position楚河 漢界卒帥俥將傌

Red wins after 16 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Impossible to Cover Both"?

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 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.

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