Horse and Cannon Class, Game 02

"Horse and Cannon Class, Game 02" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Horse & Cannon mates. Red moves first and wins in 5 moves; the key first move is H5+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 Advisor, a Horse, a Cannon. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Horses, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red H5+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.
1. Black K5=6
1. Black K5=6
2. Red H4+2 (check)
2. Black K6=5
2. Black K6=5
3. Red C5+2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 15 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black H7+8
3. Black H7+8
4. Red H2-4 (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.
4. Black K5=6
4. Black K5=6
5. Red C5=4 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Red C5=4

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 K6=5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black H7+8
- If Black plays H3-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 5 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Horse and Cannon Class, Game 02"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H5+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: Horse and Cannon Class, Game 01 Next puzzle: Horse and Cannon Class, Game 05A →

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