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Xinwu Canbian · Study 9

Xinwu Canbian · Study 9. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 68 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 cannon · E7 → E3

It captures the chariot. The cannon captures over its single screen at E6. It gives check. The defender has 5 legal replies in this position; inspect the actual reply before assuming a win. Before this move the same piece had 4 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

2. Black elephant · G5 → E3

It captures the cannon. It does not give check. The opponent has 24 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 · F7 → B7

It captures the chariot. 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 15 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black cannon · B10 → C10

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 6 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 · 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 (68 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 cannon E7 → E3
  2. Black elephant G5 → E3
  3. Red chariot F7 → B7
  4. Black cannon B10 → C10
  5. Red chariot B7 → C7
  6. Black cannon C10 → C9
  7. Red chariot C7 → I7
  8. Black soldier E9 → F9
  9. Red general F10 → E10
  10. Black elephant E3 → G1
  11. Red chariot I7 → I9
  12. Black soldier D9 → D10
  13. Red general E10 → D10
  14. Black cannon C9 → I9
  15. Red soldier G6 → G5
  16. Black soldier F9 → E9
  17. Red soldier G5 → G4
  18. Black cannon I9 → I2
  19. Red soldier D2 → E2
  20. Black general E1 → E2
  21. Red soldier D4 → D3
  22. Black cannon I2 → F2
  23. Red soldier G4 → G3
  24. Black cannon F2 → F1
  25. Red soldier G3 → F3
  26. Black cannon F1 → D1
  27. Red soldier D3 → C3
  28. Black cannon D1 → E1
  29. Red soldier C3 → D3
  30. Black cannon E1 → D1
  31. Red soldier D3 → C3
  32. Black cannon D1 → D2
  33. Red soldier E6 → E5
  34. Black cannon D2 → D1
  35. Red soldier E5 → E4
  36. Black elephant A3 → C5
  37. Red soldier C3 → C2
  38. Black elephant G1 → I3
  39. Red soldier E4 → F4
  40. Black elephant I3 → G5
  41. Red soldier F4 → G4
  42. Black elephant C5 → A3
  43. Red soldier G4 → G3
  44. Black elephant G5 → I3
  45. Red soldier G3 → G2
  46. Black elephant A3 → C5
  47. Red soldier G2 → F2
  48. Black general E2 → E1
  49. Red soldier F3 → G3
  50. Black elephant C5 → A3
  51. Red soldier G3 → G2
  52. Black elephant A3 → C5
  53. Red soldier C2 → C1
  54. Black cannon D1 → D9
  55. Red soldier C1 → D1
  56. Black general E1 → D1
  57. Red soldier F2 → E2
  58. Black soldier E9 → E10
  59. Red general D10 → E10
  60. Black cannon D9 → B9
  61. Red soldier G2 → F2
  62. Black cannon B9 → B2
  63. Red soldier F2 → F1
  64. Black cannon B2 → B1
  65. Red soldier F1 → E1
  66. Black cannon B1 → E1
  67. Red soldier E2 → E1
  68. Black general D1 → E1
Read the rules with worked examples →

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