No. 13: Lone Horse vs Lone Soldier (1)

"No. 13: Lone Horse vs Lone Soldier (1)" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Lone Horse mates. Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is H8+9. 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. Black has a General, a Soldier.

Solution move by move

1. Red H8+9
1. Black K4+1
1. Black K4+1
2. Red H9+7
2. Black P1+1
2. Black P1+1
3. Red H7+8 (check)
3. Black K4+1
3. Black K4+1
4. Red H8-9 (captures the Soldier, 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 Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black K4-1
4. Black K4-1
5. Red H9+8 (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.
5. Black K4+1
5. Black K4+1
6. Red K5+1 (checkmate)
Why it works
Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. 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 K4+1
- If Black plays P1+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
2. Black P1+1
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K4+1
- If Black plays K4-1 instead: Red mates immediately with K5+1. Try it on the board

Final position

Red wins after 6 moves. The General has no legal move.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "No. 13: Lone Horse vs Lone Soldier (1)"?

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

How many moves does the solution take?

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

What is the key move?

The first move H8+9 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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