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Xinwu Canbian · Study 2

Xinwu Canbian · Study 2. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play. Study 77 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 soldier · G2 → G1

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

2. Black elephant · E3 → G1

It captures the soldier. It does not give check. The opponent has 33 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 soldier · H1 → G1

It captures the elephant. 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 2 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.

4. Black general · F1 → F2

The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 33 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 · 10 red pieces · 11 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 (77 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 soldier G2 → G1
  2. Black elephant E3 → G1
  3. Red soldier H1 → G1
  4. Black general F1 → F2
  5. Red chariot I6 → I2
  6. Black general F2 → F3
  7. Red chariot I2 → I3
  8. Black general F3 → F2
  9. Red chariot I3 → I2
  10. Black general F2 → F3
  11. Red chariot I7 → I3
  12. Black elephant G5 → I3
  13. Red chariot I2 → I3
  14. Black general F3 → F2
  15. Red chariot I3 → I2
  16. Black general F2 → F3
  17. Red soldier G4 → G3
  18. Black general F3 → E3
  19. Red cannon I8 → I3
  20. Black chariot F9 → F3
  21. Red cannon I3 → F3
  22. Black general E3 → D3
  23. Red soldier D2 → E2
  24. Black horse E8 → G7
  25. Red chariot I2 → I5
  26. Black chariot E1 → E2
  27. Red chariot I5 → D5
  28. Black general D3 → E3
  29. Red chariot D5 → D9
  30. Black chariot E2 → H2
  31. Red chariot D9 → D5
  32. Black chariot H2 → H5
  33. Red chariot D5 → D1
  34. Black general E3 → E2
  35. Red soldier G1 → F1
  36. Black horse G7 → F5
  37. Red cannon F3 → C3
  38. Black chariot H5 → H10
  39. Red general E10 → E9
  40. Black chariot H10 → H7
  41. Red soldier G3 → F3
  42. Black soldier A9 → B9
  43. Red chariot D1 → D5
  44. Black horse F5 → H6
  45. Red chariot D5 → D8
  46. Black horse H6 → F5
  47. Red chariot D8 → F8
  48. Black horse F5 → D4
  49. Red soldier F3 → F2
  50. Black general E2 → D2
  51. Red chariot F8 → F4
  52. Black chariot H7 → H9
  53. Red general E9 → E10
  54. Black chariot H9 → H10
  55. Red general E10 → E9
  56. Black chariot H10 → D10
  57. Red chariot F4 → E4
  58. Black chariot D10 → D6
  59. Red cannon C3 → G3
  60. Black general D2 → D3
  61. Red chariot E4 → F4
  62. Black general D3 → D2
  63. Red cannon G3 → G4
  64. Black soldier B9 → C9
  65. Red cannon G4 → D4
  66. Black chariot D6 → D9
  67. Red general E9 → E10
  68. Black soldier E7 → E8
  69. Red chariot F4 → E4
  70. Black soldier E8 → E9
  71. Red chariot E4 → E9
  72. Black chariot D9 → E9
  73. Red general E10 → E9
  74. Black soldier C4 → C5
  75. Red elephant C10 → A8
  76. Black soldier A4 → A5
  77. Red cannon D4 → D10
Read the rules with worked examples →

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