How do you win with a crossed soldier in the endgame?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
Push it toward the palace and give it support. A crossed soldier is worth about double an uncrossed one because it moves sideways, and a soldier standing in the enemy palace covering one escape point is frequently what turns another piece's check into checkmate.
Direction matters more than speed
A soldier on the last rank in a corner can only shuffle sideways and is effectively dead. The same soldier two files inward may be a mating piece. Since soldiers never move backwards, this choice is permanent — decide before you push.
Support it
A soldier that steps next to the enemy general undefended simply gets eaten, because the general captures on adjacent palace points. Bring a chariot or horse to cover it first; an unsupported invasion achieves nothing.
Related questions
Can a soldier and general beat a bare general?
With accurate play, yes. The soldier alone cannot.
Is a crossed soldier worth more than an advisor?
Near the enemy palace it can be. In a defensive endgame the advisor is usually worth more.
.