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Four traditional composed endings · Study 3

Four traditional composed endings · Study 3. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 63 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 soldier · I6 → I5

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 13 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.

2. Black soldier · C5 → C6

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 22 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 · I5 → H5

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 16 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 2 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black elephant · E3 → G1

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 28 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 4 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

Continue with the learning path →

Understand this position

10 ranks × 9 files · 4 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 (63 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 soldier I6 → I5
  2. Black soldier C5 → C6
  3. Red soldier I5 → H5
  4. Black elephant E3 → G1
  5. Red soldier H5 → G5
  6. Black soldier C6 → D6
  7. Red soldier G5 → F5
  8. Black advisor E2 → F1
  9. Red soldier F5 → E5
  10. Black advisor D1 → E2
  11. Red soldier E5 → E4
  12. Black soldier D6 → E6
  13. Red chariot F6 → F5
  14. Black soldier E6 → E7
  15. Red soldier E4 → F4
  16. Black soldier E7 → E8
  17. Red chariot F5 → F6
  18. Black general E1 → D1
  19. Red chariot I10 → H10
  20. Black advisor E2 → D3
  21. Red soldier F4 → E4
  22. Black advisor D3 → E2
  23. Red soldier E4 → F4
  24. Black elephant G1 → E3
  25. Red chariot F6 → D6
  26. Black advisor E2 → D3
  27. Red chariot D6 → F6
  28. Black advisor D3 → E2
  29. Red chariot F6 → D6
  30. Black advisor E2 → D3
  31. Red chariot D6 → F6
  32. Black elephant E3 → G1
  33. Red soldier F4 → E4
  34. Black advisor D3 → E2
  35. Red soldier E4 → F4
  36. Black elephant G1 → E3
  37. Red chariot F6 → D6
  38. Black advisor E2 → D3
  39. Red chariot D6 → F6
  40. Black elephant E3 → G1
  41. Red soldier F4 → E4
  42. Black advisor D3 → E2
  43. Red soldier E4 → F4
  44. Black elephant G1 → I3
  45. Red chariot F6 → F7
  46. Black elephant I3 → G1
  47. Red chariot F7 → F6
  48. Black elephant G1 → I3
  49. Red chariot F6 → F7
  50. Black elephant I3 → G5
  51. Red soldier F4 → F3
  52. Black advisor E2 → F3
  53. Red chariot F7 → F3
  54. Black advisor F1 → E2
  55. Red chariot F3 → F7
  56. Black soldier E8 → D8
  57. Red chariot F7 → D7
  58. Black advisor E2 → D3
  59. Red chariot D7 → F7
  60. Black advisor D3 → E2
  61. Red chariot F7 → D7
  62. Black advisor E2 → D3
  63. Red chariot D7 → F7
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