Xinwu Canbian · Study 8
Xinwu Canbian · Study 8. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 30 reference plies, try both sides and branch from the replay.
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 · F5 → B5
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 16 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.
2. Black soldier · C7 → B7
The destination was empty. 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 3 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.
3. Red chariot · B5 → B7
It captures the soldier. 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 14 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 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.
Understand this position
10 ranks × 9 files · 8 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 (30 plies)
Coordinates match this board: letters left to right, row numbers from top to bottom. These are board coordinates, not traditional score notation.
- Red chariot
F5 → B5 - Black soldier
C7 → B7 - Red chariot
B5 → B7 - Black cannon
B10 → C10 - Red chariot
B7 → C7 - Black cannon
C10 → C9 - Red chariot
C7 → H7 - Black soldier
E9 → F9 - Red general
F10 → E10 - Black cannon
C9 → C7 - Red soldier
C6 → C5 - Black cannon
C7 → G7 - Red chariot
H7 → H9 - Black cannon
G7 → G9 - Red chariot
H9 → H1 - Black elephant
E3 → G1 - Red elephant
G6 → I8 - Black soldier
D9 → E9 - Red general
E10 → D10 - Black soldier
F9 → F10 - Red chariot
H1 → H10 - Black soldier
F10 → E10 - Red chariot
H10 → E10 - Black soldier
E9 → E10 - Red general
D10 → E10 - Black elephant
A3 → C5 - Red soldier
E6 → E5 - Black cannon
G9 → G2 - Red soldier
D2 → E2 - Black general
E1 → E2