Horse and Cannon Class: Standard Positions 2

"Horse and Cannon Class: Standard Positions 2" 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 C2=4. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →

Free, in the browser, no download.

Pieces on the board

Red has a General, a Horse, a Cannon. Black has a General, a Horse.

Solution move by move

1. Red C2=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 9 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black H3+5
1. Black H3+5
2. Red H3-5 (captures the Horse, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black K6=5
2. Black K6=5
3. Red C4+2
3. Black K5+1
3. Black K5+1
4. Red K5=6
4. Black K5+1
4. Black K5+1
5. Red H5+4 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Red H5+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.

1. Black H3+5
- If Black plays H3-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+4. 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: Red mates immediately with H3+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays H3+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black K6=5
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+4. Try it on the board
3. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+4. 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: Standard Positions 2"?

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 C2=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 09 Next puzzle: Horse and Cannon Class: Standard Positions 1 →

Nearby puzzles

Horse and Cannon Class, Game 02
5 moves
Horse and Cannon Class, Game 05A
6 moves
Horse and Cannon Class, Game 09
10 moves
Horse and Cannon Class: Standard Positions 1
3 moves