Horse and Soldier Class, Game 08

"Horse and Soldier Class, Game 08" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Horse & Soldier mates. Red moves first and wins in 16 moves; the key first move is K5+1. 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 Horse, a Soldier. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Cannon.

Solution move by move

1. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black E7+9
1. Black E7+9
2. Red H7-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black E9-7
2. Black E9-7
3. Red H6+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 19 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black C3-2
3. Black C3-2
4. Red P5=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.
4. Black K4=5
4. Black K4=5
5. Red K5=4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
5. Black C3+5
5. Black C3+5
6. 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 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black C3=6
6. Black C3=6
7. Red P6=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.
7. Black K5=6
7. Black K5=6
8. Red H7-5 (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 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black C6-2
8. Black C6-2
9. Red H5+4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black C6=7
9. Black C6=7
10. Red K4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black C7-2
10. Black C7-2
11. Red H4-3 (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 6 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black C7+1
11. Black C7+1
12. Red K5+1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black E7+5
12. Black E7+5
13. Red H3+5 (captures the Elephant)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black C7=9
13. Black C7=9
14. Red H5-4 (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 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black C9-1
14. Black C9-1
15. Red H4+3 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
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.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
15. Black C9=7
15. Black C9=7
16. Red K5-1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Red K5-1

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 E7+9
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H7+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H7+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H7+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H7+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H7+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H7+8. Try it on the board
2. Black E9-7
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black C3-2
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+7. Try it on the board
5. Black C3+5
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3+3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black C3=6
- If Black plays C3=4 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=5 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=7 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=8 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=9 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with P6+1. Try it on the board
8. Black C6-2
- If Black plays C6-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6-3 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6-4 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6+2 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7+9 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
9. Black C6=7
- If Black plays C6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C6=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black C7-2
- If Black plays C7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=3 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black C7+1
- If Black plays C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7+9 instead: Red mates immediately with P5+1. Try it on the board
- If Black plays E7+5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black E7+5
- If Black plays C7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=9 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H3+2. Try it on the board
13. Black C7=9
- If Black plays C7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7-1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7-2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with H5-3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C7+2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
14. Black C9-1
- If Black plays C9=8 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=7 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=6 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=5 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=4 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays C9=3 instead: Red mates immediately with H4+3. Try it on the board

Final position

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

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Horse and Soldier Class, Game 08"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Horse & Soldier 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 K5+1 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 Soldier Class, Game 07

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