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Taolue Yuanji · Study 4

Taolue Yuanji · Study 4. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 43 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 · F6 → F1

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

2. Black general · E1 → E2

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.

3. Red chariot · F1 → 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 16 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black general · E2 → E1

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 23 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 · 9 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 (43 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 F6 → F1
  2. Black general E1 → E2
  3. Red chariot F1 → F2
  4. Black general E2 → E1
  5. Red soldier C2 → D2
  6. Black chariot E7 → F7
  7. Red chariot F2 → F7
  8. Black advisor D3 → E2
  9. Red soldier G3 → F3
  10. Black chariot C4 → C2
  11. Red soldier F3 → F2
  12. Black chariot C2 → D2
  13. Red soldier F2 → E2
  14. Black general E1 → E2
  15. Red chariot F7 → F2
  16. Black general E2 → E1
  17. Red chariot F2 → D2
  18. Black soldier I4 → I5
  19. Red chariot D2 → D7
  20. Black soldier I5 → I6
  21. Red elephant E8 → G10
  22. Black soldier I6 → H6
  23. Red elephant G10 → I8
  24. Black soldier H6 → H7
  25. Red soldier G6 → G5
  26. Black soldier H7 → H8
  27. Red soldier G5 → F5
  28. Black elephant E3 → G1
  29. Red soldier F5 → E5
  30. Black soldier D9 → C9
  31. Red chariot D7 → H7
  32. Black soldier C9 → D9
  33. Red chariot H7 → D7
  34. Black soldier D9 → C9
  35. Red chariot D7 → H7
  36. Black soldier H8 → G8
  37. Red chariot H7 → H9
  38. Black soldier C9 → D9
  39. Red soldier E5 → E4
  40. Black soldier G8 → F8
  41. Red elephant I8 → G6
  42. Black general E1 → F1
  43. Red soldier E4 → F4
Read the rules with worked examples →

More positions to explore