Xu Yinchuan vs Yan Wenqing · 2004.5.26
2004.5.26 · Draw · Xu Yinchuan vs Yan Wenqing · 2004.5.26. Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Red to play, 2004.5.26. Study 32 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 elephant · G10 → E8
The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 44 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 2 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.
2. Black cannon · B3 → D3
The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 40 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 12 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.
3. Red horse · B10 → A8
The destination was empty. Its horse-leg point B9 is empty; a piece there would block this jump. It does not give check. The opponent has 43 legal replies; compare piece coordination rather than counting checks alone. Before this move the same piece had 2 legal destinations; other legal moves are not thereby proved equally strong.
4. Black soldier · A4 → A5
The destination was empty. It does not give check. The opponent has 38 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 · 16 red pieces · 16 black pieces
Replay a few moves before advancing to the end. At each pause, compare the last position with the next one: which lines opened, which groups connected, and which points became contested? Use “Start new trial here” to investigate an alternative, then return to the reference.
Read the reference line (32 plies)
Coordinates match this board: letters left to right, row numbers from top to bottom. These are board coordinates, not traditional score notation.
- Red elephant
G10 → E8 - Black cannon
B3 → D3 - Red horse
B10 → A8 - Black soldier
A4 → A5 - Red soldier
A7 → A6 - Black soldier
A5 → A6 - Red horse
A8 → B6 - Black soldier
C4 → C5 - Red cannon
H8 → H6 - Black soldier
A6 → A7 - Red soldier
G7 → G6 - Black elephant
G1 → E3 - Red horse
H10 → G8 - Black horse
B1 → C3 - Red chariot
I10 → I9 - Black horse
H1 → G3 - Red chariot
I9 → D9 - Black advisor
F1 → E2 - Red soldier
C7 → C6 - Black chariot
A1 → A5 - Red cannon
B8 → C8 - Black chariot
I1 → F1 - Red soldier
C6 → C5 - Black chariot
A5 → C5 - Red chariot
A10 → A7 - Black horse
C3 → B5 - Red chariot
A7 → A5 - Black soldier
G4 → G5 - Red chariot
D9 → D5 - Black chariot
F1 → F5 - Red chariot
D5 → C5 - Black chariot
F5 → C5