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Four traditional composed endings · Study 2

Four traditional composed endings · Study 2. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 65 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 chariot · I5 → I1

The destination was empty. It gives check. The defender has 2 legal replies in this position; inspect the actual reply before assuming a win. Before this move the same piece had 9 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

2. Black elephant · E3 → G1

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 31 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 chariot · I1 → G1

It captures the elephant. 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 11 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black advisor · E2 → F1

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 26 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 · 8 red pieces · 8 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 (65 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 chariot I5 → I1
  2. Black elephant E3 → G1
  3. Red chariot I1 → G1
  4. Black advisor E2 → F1
  5. Red horse G5 → F3
  6. Black general E1 → E2
  7. Red horse F3 → D4
  8. Black general E2 → D2
  9. Red horse D4 → F3
  10. Black general D2 → E2
  11. Red horse F3 → D4
  12. Black general E2 → D2
  13. Red chariot G1 → G2
  14. Black advisor D1 → E2
  15. Red horse D4 → F3
  16. Black general D2 → D3
  17. Red horse F3 → E5
  18. Black general D3 → D2
  19. Red horse E5 → C4
  20. Black general D2 → D1
  21. Red chariot H5 → D5
  22. Black general D1 → E1
  23. Red elephant E8 → C10
  24. Black chariot B7 → C7
  25. Red elephant C6 → A8
  26. Black soldier E9 → D9
  27. Red general D10 → E10
  28. Black chariot C7 → E7
  29. Red general E10 → F10
  30. Black soldier D9 → E9
  31. Red chariot D5 → F5
  32. Black chariot E7 → H7
  33. Red chariot G2 → G10
  34. Black soldier D8 → D9
  35. Red horse C4 → E5
  36. Black elephant C1 → E3
  37. Red horse E5 → D3
  38. Black general E1 → D1
  39. Red horse D3 → B4
  40. Black advisor E2 → D3
  41. Red chariot F5 → F1
  42. Black general D1 → D2
  43. Red chariot F1 → F5
  44. Black chariot H7 → H1
  45. Red horse B4 → C6
  46. Black elephant E3 → G5
  47. Red chariot G10 → I10
  48. Black elephant G5 → I3
  49. Red chariot I10 → G10
  50. Black general D2 → D1
  51. Red chariot F5 → F4
  52. Black soldier D9 → D10
  53. Red horse C6 → D8
  54. Black chariot H1 → H8
  55. Red chariot F4 → F9
  56. Black soldier E9 → F9
  57. Red general F10 → F9
  58. Black chariot H8 → D8
  59. Red chariot G10 → G6
  60. Black chariot D8 → D9
  61. Red general F9 → F8
  62. Black chariot D9 → E9
  63. Red elephant C10 → E8
  64. Black chariot E9 → E10
  65. Red chariot G6 → G10
Read the rules with worked examples →

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