Horse Offered on the Back Rank

"Horse Offered on the Back Rank" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Chariot & Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 17 moves; the key first move is R4+3. 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. Red R4+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.
1. Black K5-1
1. Black K5-1
2. Red H8+7 (check)
2. Black K5=4
2. Black K5=4
3. Red R4-1 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K4+1
3. Black K4+1
4. 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 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
4. Black K4-1
4. Black K4-1
5. Red H6-8 (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 21 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black K4=5
5. Black K4=5
6. Red R4+2 (check)
6. Black K5-1
6. Black K5-1
7. Red H8-6 (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.
7. Black K5=4
7. Black K5=4
8. 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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R9=6 (check, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
8. Black R9=6
9. Red H6+4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
The Horse stands where it can be captured.
9. Black R6=9
9. Black R6=9
10. Red R5=8 (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. Black K4=5
11. Red R8+1 (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.
11. Black K5+1
11. Black K5+1
12. Red R8=1 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P4=5 (check)
12. Black P4=5
13. Red K4+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P5=4
13. Black P5=4
14. Red H4-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black K5+1
14. Black K5+1
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 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Black K5=4
15. Black K5=4
16. Red R1=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.
16. Black K4=5
16. Black K4=5
17. Red R6-8 (captures the Soldier, checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
17. Red R6-8

Variations and alternative defences

What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.

2. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=5. Try it on the board
3. Black K4+1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K4-1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4=6. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K4=5
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black K5-1
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black R9=6
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R9=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H6+8. Try it on the board
9. Black R6=9
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black P4=5
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=5. Try it on the board
13. Black P5=4
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=5. Try it on the board
14. Black K5+1
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
15. Black K5=4
- If Black plays P4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R1-2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1-2. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 17 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Horse Offered on the Back Rank"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move R4+3 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: Two Birds with One Stone Next puzzle: Pressing Step by Step →

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