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Taolue Yuanji · Study 1

Taolue Yuanji · Study 1. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 30 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 · F7 → B7

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 18 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 16 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

2. Black cannon · B10 → C10

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 27 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 6 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

3. Red chariot · B7 → C7

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 19 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 17 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black cannon · C10 → C9

The destination was empty. 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 7 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 · 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 (30 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 F7 → B7
  2. Black cannon B10 → C10
  3. Red chariot B7 → C7
  4. Black cannon C10 → C9
  5. Red chariot C7 → H7
  6. Black soldier E9 → F9
  7. Red general F10 → E10
  8. Black cannon C9 → C7
  9. Red soldier C6 → C5
  10. Black cannon C7 → G7
  11. Red chariot H7 → H9
  12. Black cannon G7 → G9
  13. Red chariot H9 → H1
  14. Black elephant E3 → G1
  15. Red elephant G6 → I8
  16. Black soldier D9 → E9
  17. Red general E10 → D10
  18. Black soldier F9 → F10
  19. Red chariot H1 → H10
  20. Black soldier F10 → E10
  21. Red chariot H10 → E10
  22. Black soldier E9 → E10
  23. Red general D10 → E10
  24. Black elephant A3 → C5
  25. Red soldier E6 → E5
  26. Black cannon G9 → G2
  27. Red soldier D2 → E2
  28. Black general E1 → E2
  29. Red soldier D4 → D3
  30. Black cannon G2 → I2
Read the rules with worked examples →

More positions to explore