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Four traditional composed endings · Study 1

Four traditional composed endings · Study 1. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 55 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 · E8 → H8

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 21 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 13 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

2. Black soldier · G7 → H7

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 3 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

3. Red chariot · H8 → H7

It captures the soldier. It does not give check. The opponent has 20 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 11 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black soldier · D9 → E9

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.

Continue with the learning path →

Understand this position

10 ranks × 9 files · 4 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 (55 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 E8 → H8
  2. Black soldier G7 → H7
  3. Red chariot H8 → H7
  4. Black soldier D9 → E9
  5. Red general E10 → D10
  6. Black advisor D3 → E2
  7. Red chariot H7 → H2
  8. Black horse G6 → F4
  9. Red chariot H2 → F2
  10. Black elephant I3 → G1
  11. Red soldier C7 → C6
  12. Black advisor E2 → F3
  13. Red soldier E3 → E2
  14. Black advisor F3 → E2
  15. Red chariot F2 → F4
  16. Black soldier A4 → A5
  17. Red chariot F4 → E4
  18. Black soldier A5 → A6
  19. Red soldier C6 → C5
  20. Black soldier A6 → B6
  21. Red soldier C5 → C4
  22. Black soldier B6 → C6
  23. Red soldier C4 → D4
  24. Black soldier C6 → C7
  25. Red soldier D4 → D3
  26. Black general E1 → F1
  27. Red chariot E4 → F4
  28. Black general F1 → E1
  29. Red chariot F4 → E4
  30. Black general E1 → F1
  31. Red chariot E4 → F4
  32. Black general F1 → E1
  33. Red chariot F4 → E4
  34. Black general E1 → F1
  35. Red chariot E4 → F4
  36. Black advisor E2 → F3
  37. Red soldier D3 → E3
  38. Black general F1 → E1
  39. Red chariot F4 → F3
  40. Black elephant G1 → E3
  41. Red chariot F3 → E3
  42. Black general E1 → F1
  43. Red chariot E3 → C3
  44. Black soldier C7 → D7
  45. Red chariot C3 → D3
  46. Black soldier D7 → C7
  47. Red chariot D3 → D8
  48. Black general F1 → E1
  49. Red chariot D8 → E8
  50. Black general E1 → F1
  51. Red chariot E8 → D8
  52. Black general F1 → F2
  53. Red chariot D8 → D2
  54. Black general F2 → F1
  55. Red chariot D2 → D8
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