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Shiqing Yaqu · Study 7

Shiqing Yaqu · Study 7. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 39 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 · H4 → H2

The destination was empty. It gives check. The defender has 3 legal replies in this position; inspect the actual reply before assuming a win. Before this move the same piece had 16 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

2. Black cannon · F7 → F2

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 40 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 · H2 → F2

It captures the cannon. It gives check. The defender has 3 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.

4. Black chariot · F9 → F2

It captures the chariot. 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.

Continue with the learning path →

Understand this position

10 ranks × 9 files · 9 red pieces · 11 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 (39 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 H4 → H2
  2. Black cannon F7 → F2
  3. Red chariot H2 → F2
  4. Black chariot F9 → F2
  5. Red soldier B2 → C2
  6. Black general D2 → E2
  7. Red cannon I4 → E4
  8. Black elephant E3 → C5
  9. Red cannon E4 → E10
  10. Black elephant C5 → E3
  11. Red advisor E9 → D10
  12. Black elephant E3 → C5
  13. Red advisor D8 → E9
  14. Black elephant C5 → E3
  15. Red advisor E9 → F8
  16. Black elephant E3 → C5
  17. Red horse C8 → E7
  18. Black elephant C5 → E3
  19. Red horse E7 → C6
  20. Black elephant E3 → C5
  21. Red horse C6 → E5
  22. Black elephant C5 → E3
  23. Red horse E5 → D3
  24. Black elephant E3 → C5
  25. Red horse D3 → E5
  26. Black elephant C5 → E3
  27. Red horse E5 → G4
  28. Black elephant E3 → C5
  29. Red soldier C2 → D2
  30. Black general E2 → E1
  31. Red soldier D2 → D1
  32. Black general E1 → E2
  33. Red horse G4 → E3
  34. Black general E2 → E3
  35. Red soldier C3 → D3
  36. Black general E3 → E2
  37. Red advisor D10 → E9
  38. Black elephant C5 → E3
  39. Red soldier D3 → E3
Read the rules with worked examples →

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