2015 14th World Xiangqi Championship: Round 1:Sloan Sam (USA) Loses Lai Ly Huynh (Vietnam)

2015 14th World Xiangqi Championship:  Round 1:Sloan Sam (USA) Loses Lai Ly Huynh (Vietnam)

Sloan Sam (USA)

Lai Ly Huynh (Vietnam)

http://wxf.org/xq/14wxc/9.html

Round 1
2015 14th World Xiangqi Championship
Date: 22nd August 2015
Venue: University of Applied Languages (SDI), Munich, Germany



  1. C2=4  …………

Red starts with Palace Corner Cannon. This opening is not common in high level tournament.

  1. …………  C2=5

Black C2=5 counters with Central Cannon.According to the statistic Black C2=5 is the most effective way to counter Palace Corner Cannon opening. The winning rate even higher in Black's side. This is also one of the reason why Palace Corner Cannon opening is not popular in high rank tournament.

  2. H8+7  H2+3    3. H2+3  …………

From Palace Corner Cannon, Red transformed his opening as Sandwiched Horse Opening.

  3. …………  H8+9    4. R9=8  R1=2
  5. R1=2  R9=8    6. P3+1  …………

Red P3+1 may not be so effective. This is because the 3rd file pawn would have blocked the movement of Red's chariot, if Red's plan R2+4 in next move. This indirectly reduce the possible choices for Red right's chariot development.
A better move would be C4+5, which correlative to Palace Corner Cannon opening.
C4+5 also in preparation to trade Black's left horse.

  6. …………  R2+4    7. E7+5  P9+1

Black plans H9+8 in next move.

  8. R2+6  …………

Red could not played R2+4 because of P3+1 in ply number 6.

  8. …………  C8=6    9. R2+3  H9-8
 10. A6+5  …………

Red A6+5 is a good waiting move.

 10. …………  P3+1

Black is ready to trade the chariot.

 11. C8=9  R2+5   12. H7-8  C5+4

Of course!

 13. C4+7  …………

Of course!

 13. …………  K5=6   14. H3+5  P5+1
 15. H5+4  …………

Black forced to play H5+4, else Black P5+1 in next move.

 15. …………  H8+9   16. C9=7  …………

? Not really useful. Better would be H8+6 to develop the horse.

 16. …………  E7+5   17. P9+1  H9+8

Black is planning to capture the pawns.

 18. H8+9  H3+4

Good move. Black is tagetting Red's pawn on file number 7, and prevent Red play H9+8 in next move.

 19. H9+8  …………

Bad move. As seen , Black still remains all his five pawns on board.While, Red's pawn on 1st file and 7th file are capturing by Black. Red should consolidate his defense instead of launch the attack. Better move for Red would be C7=6.

 19. …………  H8+6

Bad idea for Black to offer to exchange the horse. A better move would be H4+3, capture the pawn directly.

 20. H8+7  …………

Mistake. Red should H8+6 to trade the horse, and aim for a draw.If Black replied with H6-4, Red P7+1, Black P3+1, Red E5+7, Black C6=9, Red C7=9. Red could easily get a draw. However, Red just too focus on attack and has forgotten how to defense.

 20. …………  H6+4   21. C7=6  H4+3
 22. H7+6  A4+5   23. H4+5  H3+2


Good move.As seen, Black still remains all his pawns on board.

 24. H5-6  C6+2

Better move would be C6+3 and then C6=5 in next move. Red would be in difficult position.

 25. H6+7  …………

Better would have been C6-1.

 25. …………  C6+1

A trap being setup by Black.

 26. H7+5  …………

Red falls into trap. Red should H7-6. However, Black has gained huge advantages.

 26. …………  H2-4   27. A5+6  C6=5

Excellent move. Black also threatening to capture Red's horse on center line.

 28. A4+5  …………

Big mistake for Red. Black could win easily without capture Red's horse.

 28. …………  H4+6   29. K5=4  C5=6

Black checkmates. Black wins.