Horse and Soldier Class, Game 01

"Horse and Soldier Class, Game 01" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Horse & Soldier mates. Red moves first and wins in 22 moves; the key first move is H8+6. 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, 2 Advisors, a Horse.

Solution move by move

1. Red H8+6
1. Black A6+5
1. Black A6+5
2. Red P6=5 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier, 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.
2. Black K5+1 (captures the Soldier)
2. Black K5+1
3. Red H6-7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K5=6
3. Black K5=6
4. Red H7-5 (captures the Horse)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black K6=5
4. Black K6=5
5. Red K5=6
5. Black K5+1
5. Black K5+1
6. Red H5+6
6. Black A4+5
6. Black A4+5
7. Red H6-4 (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.
7. Black K5=6
7. Black K5=6
8. Red K6=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black K6-1
8. Black K6-1
9. Red H4+3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black A5-4
9. Black A5-4
10. Red K5+1
10. Black K6+1
10. Black K6+1
11. Red H3+4
11. Black A4+5
11. Black A4+5
12. Red H4-6 (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.
12. Black K6-1
12. Black K6-1
13. Red H6-5 (check)
13. Black K6+1
13. Black K6+1
14. Red H5+7
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black A5+4
14. Black A5+4
15. Red H7-6
15. Black A4-5
15. Black A4-5
16. Red H6+4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
16. Black A5-4
16. Black A5-4
17. Red H4+2 (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.
17. Black A4+5
17. Black A4+5
18. Red H2+3 (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.
18. Black K6-1
18. Black K6-1
19. Red H3-5 (captures the Advisor)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
19. Black K6+1
19. Black K6+1
20. Red H5-3 (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.
20. Black K6-1
20. Black K6-1
21. Red H3+2 (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.
21. Black K6+1
21. Black K6+1
22. Red K5-1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
22. Red K5-1

Variations and alternative defences

The source manual records 1 variation. Each branch starts from the move number shown.

Variation 1, from move 2: K5=6 3. P5+1# Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 22 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Horse and Soldier Class, Game 01"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H8+6 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 1 Next puzzle: Horse and Soldier Class, Game 03 →

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