2015 14th World Xiangqi Championship. Round 1: Lay Kam Hock (West Malaysia) wins Iwan Setiawan (Indonesia)

2015 14th World Xiangqi Championship. Round 1: Lay Kam Hock (West Malaysia) wins Iwan Setiawan (Indonesia)

Both players on action

Lay Kim Hock (West Malaysia)

Iwan Setiawan (Indonesia)

Lay Kam Hock (West Malaysia) wins Iwan Setiawan (Indonesia)

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




  1. C2=5  …………

Central cannon opening.

  1. …………  H8+7    2. H2+3  R9=8
  3. P7+1  H2+1

In this game, Black uses Single Horse Defense against Red central cannon opening.
Normally in this situation, Black will play P7+1. This is because Single Horse defense is not a idea opening to against central cannon.

  4. H8+7  C8=9    5. P3+1  R1+1
  6. H7+6  …………

Good move. As seen, Black's central line is the weakness. Red H7+6 is a good move to attack Black's central pawn.

  6. …………  E7+5

Black forces to consolidate his central line first.

  7. C8=6  …………

Good move, prevent Black's chariot R1=4 to capture horse.

  7. …………  C2+3

Black cannot allow Red's horse stays on river bank, C2+3 is to force Red to moves the horse.

  8. P7+1  …………

? Red can straight away H6+5 to attack on center line.

  8. …………  P3+1    9. H6+5  …………

H6+4 better.

  9. …………  H7+5   10. C5+4  A4+5
 11. R9=8  P3+1   12. E7+9  R1=4
 13. A6+5  R4+2   14. C6=5  R4+2
 15. C5-2  R4+1

Black's chariot moves too frequent. P1+1 would be better.

 16. +C=8  P3=2   17. R8+4  R4=1
 18. R8+2  R1+1   19. R8=3  R8+6
 20. R1+2  R8=7   21. P5+1  P1+1
 22. R3=6  …………

? Red gives up his pawn so easily.

 22. …………  H1+2

Black should R7-1.

 23. R6+2  E5-7   24. R6=7  E3+5
 25. H3-1  …………

Red setting up a small trap, prepare for C5+5.

 25. …………  R1+2   26. A5-6  H2-4
 27. R7-2  H4+5   28. A4+5  C9=7
 29. R1=2  R7+2

Good move.

 30. R7=8  R7=9   31. R2+1  C7+7
 32. R2=6  A5-4   33. R8-2  R1-4

Mistake. Black miss the opportunity. A winning move for Black would be R9+1. If R8=5, Black 7=4, A5-4, C4=6. Black wins.

 34. R8=9  P1+1   35. R6+1  R9-2
 36. R6=9  A6+5   37. R9=5  R9=7
 38. C5=8  A5+4

Black  can just simply C7-4 for a draw,

 39. C8=5  A4-5   40. C5=8  A5+4
 41. C8=5  A4+5   42. R5=8  R7=5
 43. C5=9  A5-4   44. P3+1  …………

Excellent move. Black could not played E5+7. Red will respond with C9+1 for discover check,and gain Black's chariot.

 44. …………  R5=1   45. C9=5  A4-5
 46. P3=4  R1=6   47. R8=3  …………

Excellent move. A key move for Red to gain Black' elephant.

 47. …………  R6=5   48. C5=9  C7-3
 49. R3+5  …………

Good move.

 49. …………  A5-6   50. R3-5  R5=1
 51. C9=5  C7=5   52. R3=5  A4+5
 53. R5+3  R1=4   54. R5-3  K5=4
 55. K5=4  C5=8   56. P4=5  C8-4
 57. P5+1  R4=6   58. K4=5  C8=2
 59. R5=8  C2=3   60. R8=7  C3=2
 61. R7+5  K4+1   62. C5=6  R6=5
 63. P5=6  A5+4   64. R7=8  C2=1
 65. R8-1  K4-1   66. P6+1  K4=5
 67. C6=9

Obviously, Red end game is much better.
Red wins.