Xiangqi Grandmaster Jiang Chuan - annotated games: GM Sun Yongzheng (Shanghai) loses to GM Jiang Chuan (Beijing)

Xiangqi Grandmaster Jiang Chuan - annotated games

Copyright owner: Jiang Chuan Xiangqi Fans Club
Translated by permission: Wong Ping Loong

GM Sun Yongzheng (Shanghai) loses to GM Jiang Chuan (Beijing)

Event: 2010 China National Xiangqi Men Championship
Date: 24th Oct 2010.


  1. E3+5  …………

Great Xiangqi Grand Master Hu Runghua, has gained good results by using Elephant Opening. Since then, elephant opening variation has became a popular opening for Shanghai Team. Shanghai's players often use elephant opening in main tournaments and have obtained good results.
Before this game, GM Sun also often used elephant opening against me, he either won or draw.



  1. …………  C8=4

I have selected my favorite, Left Crossed Palace Cannon opening to counter with elephant opening.

  2. P3+1  …………

In 2008, a game within GM Sun and me, he had selected H2+3 variation. However, in this game GM Sun has changed his tactic and select P3+1.

  2. …………  H8+7    3. C2=4  …………

Beside this, Red also could played H2+3,Black R9=8, Red H3+4. There would be different challenges for Black.

  3. …………  R9=8    4. H2+3  H2+3
  5. H8+7  P3+1    6. C8+4  E3+5

Here we had reached a common variation. Black could also replied with E7+5, H3+4 or P5+1.

  7. C8=3  R1+1

New variation! The purpose of R1+1 is to move the chariot to file 6 and attack Red's cannon.

  8. H3+4  …………


Red advanced this horse H3+4 to prevent Black R1=6.

  8. …………  R8+6    9. C3=4  C2-1

C2+1 was the continuation move of R8+6.

 10. C4+2  …………

Advanced cannon to prevent Black C2=6.

 10. …………  C2+3

By using zugzwang tactic, my right's chariot has gained control of Red's cannons and horse. Red has lost his initiative.

 11. R9=8  H7+8

Black H9+8 is to force Red make a decision.

 12. P3+1  R8-1   13. H4-3  R8+1
 14. H3+4  R8-1   15. H4-3  R8+1
 16. H3+4  R8-1   17. H4+5  …………

Red has forced to change his move since the horse was long perpetual Black's chariot.

 17. …………  R1=6   18. H5+7  C2=7
 19. A4+5  R6+2

The previous few moves were must-move for both. Now Black R6+2 is a good move to control his pawn rank. Black has gained little advantages.


 20. C4+7  …………

GM Sun was itch to win the game and make a minor mistake.
A better move would have been R1=3.

 20. …………  R6-3   21. R8+9  K5+1

K5+1 has stopped all Red's attack! GM Sun must omission-ed this move after sacrificed his cannon.

 22. R8-1  K5-1   23. H7+6  R6+3

Until here, Red had lose a piece.

 24. R8+1  C4-1   25. P5+1  …………

Since I have stopped the first wave of attack, GM Sun tried to sacrifice his middle pawn to develop his right's chariot for second wave of attack.

 25. …………  R8=5

After long consideration, I have decided to let Red right's chariot move out easily.

 26. R1=2  H8-9

!

 27. R2+3  …………

Black H8+9 has stopped Red right's chariot counter attack.Red R2+3 was to try his best effort.

 27. …………  K5+1

Black K5+1 was not to give any opportunity for Red to attack Black's king.

 28. H7+5  C7=5   29. H5-3  H9+7
 30. R2+2  R6+5   31. H3-2  R6-8

After the game, GM Xu Tianhong mentioned that Black could R5=7 to kill and checkmate. I have overlooked this simple kill! It seems that anything can happen under big pressure.

 32. H2+3  R6+8   33. H3-2  R6-2

I could play C5=8 in next move to exchange the chariot.
GM Sun resigns..