2015 14th World XiangQi Championship Men's Individual game: Round 1 Dmitry RUMYANTSEV (Russia) wins Norbert Wagner（Germany)

2015 14th World XiangQi Championship Men's Individual game: 

Dmitry RUMYANTSEV (Russia) wins Norbert Wagner（Germany)

http://wxf.org/xq/14wxc/20.html

Event: 2015 14th World Xiangqi Championship
Date: 22nd August 2015

Venue: University of Applied Languages (SDI), Munich, Germany

Both players are in action. Left is Dmitry RUMYANTSEV (Russia) ; Right is  Norbert Wagner（Germany).

Dmitry RUMYANTSEV (Russia) 

  1. P7+1  …………

Red starts with P7+1, one of the most common opening nowadays.
According to www.dpxq.com statistic, the wining rate for Red to play Pawn Opening P3+1, is 36.5%, whereas Black's winning rate is around 28.6%. Due to its higher winning rate, most players are like to use P3+1 as opening.

  1. …………  C2=5

Black counter-played with C2=5, which was not common. Usually, Black played C2=3.

  2. H8+7  …………

Of course.

  2. …………  H2+3    3. E7+5  …………

Red should develop his main pieces during the opening stage. E7+5 to consolidate the center is not the main concern  at this moment.
A better move would have been R9=8 to develop his chariot.

  3. …………  P7+1

R1=2 would be a better choice.

  4. H2+1  …………

Red's H2+1 was not ideal. A better move would be H2+3, although Black already make P7+1. H2+3 would allow Red to develop his left horse for H7+8 or H7+6. Because of H2+1, Red only has single horse to defense his center pawn.Since Red left's horse need to protect the center pawn, it movement would be limited. Indirectly, Red has less chances to develop his left's horse.

  4. …………  R1=2    5. R9=8  H8+7
  6. C2=4  …………

Red C2=4 was not a good idea. Obviously, Red would like to play R1=2 in next move. However, Black could H7+8 to prevent this to happen. A better plan for Red would be R1+1.

  6. …………  R9+1

Black R9+1 was a bad move. Black should play H7+8 to prevent Red to develop his chariot.

  7. R1=2  R9=6    8. A6+5  C8=9

Another bad move for Black. Better would have been C8+2, to prevent Red's chariot cross the river to attack Black's horse.

  9. R2+6  H7+6

Big mistake!

 10. C4+6  R2+1

Better would have been R2+6 follow by R2=3 to attack Red's left horse.

 11. R2=4  H6+5   12. H7+5  C5+4
 13. C8+3  …………

C8+4 would be a better choice for Red.

 13. …………  E3+5   14. R4-3  C5-2
 15. P1+1  C9+3

Black could play P3+1 instead of C9+3.

 16. H1+2  C9=3

Black should P3+1.

 17. H2+3  C5+1   18. R4=5  P5+1
 19. E5+7  …………

Red had has gained another material.

 19. …………  P9+1   20. C4-6  C5=9
 21. H3-5  R2+2

?

 22. H5+4  K5+1   23. C8=5  H3+5
 24. R8+6

Red wins.