Andy Thomas wrote on Fri, Apr 7, 2006 05:30 AM UTC:
indeed, i agree with fergus... it's virtually impossible to get a
checkmate in the situation you describe, without your opponent
deliberately handing you the game...
in an end-game like this, if you had a horse and a pawn instead, you might
have a slightly better chance than with a single chariot...
a single attacking chariot against perhaps a defending king and just one
each of mandarin and elephant; you might also be able to get a win in a
situation like that...
but in your scenario, with the 'twin interlocking layers' provided by
the intact pairs of mandarins and elephants remaining on defense... your
chances at checkmate employing a single chariot are virtually nil... at
least in my opinion...
best to offer a draw and start anew...