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Four traditional composed endings · Study 4

Four traditional composed endings · Study 4. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 85 reference plies, try both sides and branch from the replay.

0 pliesRed starts

Site coordinates run A–I left to right and 1–10 top to bottom; A1 is the top-left intersection.

Read the position, one decision at a time

Try the position first, then open the notes. They explain measurable changes in the reference, not every possible variation.

Reveal step-by-step explanations

1. Red cannon · H8 → F8

The destination was empty. It gives check. The defender has 1 legal replies in this position; inspect the actual reply before assuming a win. Before this move the same piece had 12 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

2. Black soldier · E8 → F8

It captures the cannon. It does not give check. The opponent has 27 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 1 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

3. Red soldier · F3 → F2

The destination was empty. It gives check. The defender has 1 legal replies in this position; inspect the actual reply before assuming a win. Before this move the same piece had 3 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black general · F1 → F2

It captures the soldier. It does not give check. The opponent has 24 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 1 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

Continue with the learning path →

Understand this position

10 ranks × 9 files · 7 red pieces · 7 black pieces

Before moving, locate both generals and check open files, cannon screens and blocked horse legs. Try a legal move on the board, then examine the reply rather than assuming the first check wins. The reference is one continuation to compare, not an evaluation of every possible branch.

Read the reference line (85 plies)

Coordinates match this board: letters left to right, row numbers from top to bottom. These are board coordinates, not traditional score notation.

  1. Red cannon H8 → F8
  2. Black soldier E8 → F8
  3. Red soldier F3 → F2
  4. Black general F1 → F2
  5. Red chariot G10 → G2
  6. Black general F2 → F1
  7. Red chariot H10 → H9
  8. Black soldier F9 → E9
  9. Red chariot H9 → E9
  10. Black soldier D9 → E9
  11. Red general E10 → E9
  12. Black soldier F8 → F9
  13. Red general E9 → E8
  14. Black chariot E1 → C1
  15. Red soldier D2 → C2
  16. Black chariot C1 → A1
  17. Red chariot G2 → G3
  18. Black general F1 → F2
  19. Red chariot G3 → G2
  20. Black general F2 → F1
  21. Red chariot G2 → G4
  22. Black chariot A1 → A8
  23. Red chariot G4 → F4
  24. Black general F1 → E1
  25. Red chariot F4 → F9
  26. Black soldier B8 → C8
  27. Red chariot F9 → D9
  28. Black soldier C8 → C9
  29. Red chariot D9 → D8
  30. Black chariot A8 → A6
  31. Red chariot D8 → D3
  32. Black chariot A6 → E6
  33. Red general E8 → D8
  34. Black chariot E6 → E10
  35. Red chariot D3 → D1
  36. Black general E1 → E2
  37. Red chariot D1 → H1
  38. Black chariot E10 → A10
  39. Red general D8 → E8
  40. Black soldier C9 → D9
  41. Red chariot H1 → D1
  42. Black chariot A10 → I10
  43. Red chariot D1 → F1
  44. Black chariot I10 → I8
  45. Red chariot F1 → F8
  46. Black chariot I8 → I6
  47. Red chariot F8 → F1
  48. Black chariot I6 → E6
  49. Red general E8 → D8
  50. Black chariot E6 → D6
  51. Red general D8 → E8
  52. Black chariot D6 → D7
  53. Red chariot F1 → H1
  54. Black chariot D7 → C7
  55. Red chariot H1 → D1
  56. Black soldier D9 → C9
  57. Red chariot D1 → H1
  58. Black soldier C9 → D9
  59. Red chariot H1 → D1
  60. Black general E2 → F2
  61. Red chariot D1 → D4
  62. Black chariot C7 → F7
  63. Red general E8 → D8
  64. Black soldier D9 → C9
  65. Red general D8 → E8
  66. Black soldier C9 → D9
  67. Red general E8 → D8
  68. Black soldier D9 → E9
  69. Red chariot D4 → E4
  70. Black soldier E9 → F9
  71. Red chariot E4 → H4
  72. Black chariot F7 → D7
  73. Red general D8 → E8
  74. Black chariot D7 → C7
  75. Red general E8 → D8
  76. Black elephant E3 → G5
  77. Red soldier C2 → D2
  78. Black general F2 → F3
  79. Red chariot H4 → G4
  80. Black elephant G5 → I3
  81. Red chariot G4 → G3
  82. Black general F3 → F2
  83. Red chariot G3 → I3
  84. Black chariot C7 → G7
  85. Red chariot I3 → I5
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