Horse and Soldier Class, Game 05

"Horse and Soldier Class, Game 05" 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 P3+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 Advisor, a Elephant, a Horse.

Solution move by move

1. Red P3+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.
1. Black K6-1
1. Black K6-1
2. Red P3+1 (captures the Elephant, 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.
Wins material: takes the Elephant.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
2. Black K6+1
2. Black K6+1
3. Red H7+6 (check, 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.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
3. Black H4-5
3. Black H4-5
4. Red K5=4 (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 K6=5
4. Black K6=5
5. Red P3=4
5. Black K5=4
5. Black K5=4
6. Red P4=5 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black K4=5
6. Black K4=5
7. Red P5=4 (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 H6-8
8. Black A6-5
8. Black A6-5
9. Red P4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black A5+6
9. Black A5+6
10. Red H8-7 (check)
10. Black K4+1
10. Black K4+1
11. Red H7-5 (check)
11. Black K4-1
11. Black K4-1
12. Red H5+4 (captures the Advisor, check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
12. Black K4=5
12. Black K4=5
13. Red H4-6 (check, 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.
13. Black K5+1
13. Black K5+1
14. Red K4-1 (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. Black K5=4
15. Red H6+8 (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.
15. Black K4=5
15. Black K4=5
16. Red H8+7 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
16. Red H8+7

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.

5. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
6. Black K4=5
- If Black plays A6-5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black A6-5
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black A5+6
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5-4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays A5+4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black K4-1
- If Black plays K4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with K4=5. Try it on the board
13. Black K5+1
- If Black plays K5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. 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 05"?

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 P3+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.

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