Xinwu Canbian · Study 5
Xinwu Canbian · Study 5. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 34 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 · I7 → F7
The destination was empty. It gives check. The defender has 2 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 soldier · E7 → F7
It captures the chariot. It does not give check. The opponent has 35 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 · I6 → F6
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 14 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.
4. Black horse · E8 → F6
It captures the chariot. Its horse-leg point E7 is empty; a piece there would block this jump. It does not give check. The opponent has 32 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.
Understand this position
10 ranks × 9 files · 11 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 (34 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
I7 → F7 - Black soldier
E7 → F7 - Red chariot
I6 → F6 - Black horse
E8 → F6 - Red soldier
C1 → D1 - Black soldier
D9 → D10 - Red general
E10 → D10 - Black elephant
G5 → I3 - Red soldier
D1 → E1 - Black general
F1 → E1 - Red soldier
G2 → F2 - Black soldier
B10 → C10 - Red general
D10 → E10 - Black horse
F6 → D7 - Red soldier
D2 → E2 - Black general
E1 → D1 - Red cannon
I8 → D8 - Black soldier
F7 → E7 - Red soldier
F2 → F1 - Black chariot
F9 → F1 - Red soldier
D5 → D4 - Black soldier
E7 → E8 - Red soldier
D4 → D3 - Black soldier
C10 → D10 - Red general
E10 → D10 - Black chariot
F1 → F10 - Red general
D10 → D9 - Black soldier
E8 → D8 - Red general
D9 → D8 - Black chariot
F10 → D10 - Red general
D8 → E8 - Black horse
D7 → C9 - Red general
E8 → E9 - Black chariot
D10 → D3