A wonderful endgame: Sacrificed Cannon and Horse in order to win the game with two pawns

A wonderful endgame: Sacrificed Cannon and Horse in order to win the game with two pawns

Black's horse stayed on file 2 was capturing Red's pawn, whereas Black's horse stayed on center file was capturing Red's advisor. It seems that Red was in difficult situation.

The diagram shown the game position for 2017 China Xiangqi Tournament -team event, Xie YeJian (Hunan) against Mi YueJin (Xinjiang) at 60th move. Red was in advantages with additional 2 pawns. However, Red had lose both elephants and under attack by Black's double horses. During this critical moment, Red had demonstrated his ability in complicated calculation and high-skill endgame, sacrificed his cannon and horse and finally defeated his opponent with his last 2 pawns.

White to move!

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 4

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 4

Game selections

Jing Xueyi loses to Wang Tianyi  Game Notation

Zhao Guorong wins Xie Kui Game Notation

Zhao Xinxin wins Wang Hao Game Notation

Hong Zhi wins Guo HaiJun Game Notation

Jiang Chuan wins Sung Guoqiong Game Notation 



How to:

Wang Tianyi wins Li Xiaolong: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 3

Wang Tianyi wins Li Xiaolong2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 3

9th April 2017

Wang Tianyi is well known with his horse-cannon end game. The game below perfectly describing his competency in end game!

Song Guoqiang loses to Hong Zhi: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 3

Song Guoqiang loses to Hong Zhi

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 3
9th April 2017

Hong Zhi is one of the top China's player. He Xiangqi's strategy is to make the board situation complicated. He is able to seek for opportunity in the complex situation.

This game is a good example! Both sides counter attack heavily, and the board situation was very complicated.

Enjoy.

Wang Yang wins Wu Junqiang: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 3

Wang Yang wins Wu Junqiang

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 3
9th April 2017

Wang Yang started the game with horse opening, then transformed into Screen Horses Defense. Whereas, Wu Junqiang used Single Horse Defenses Ranked Chariot opening. In the middle game, Black made a mistake, simply deployed his cannon to front line without getting support from other main pieces. Red took this opportunity, contained and captured this cannon. This led Red to win the game.

Jiang Chuan wins Wang Xiaohua: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

Jiang Chuan wins Wang Xiaohua

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 28th April 2017

In this game, Jiang Chuan used horse opening, Wang Xiaohua replied with pawn opening. Jiang Chuan followed by central cannon, obviously he want to win this game. Black made a mistake in the midgame and loses his horse. After losing the horse, Black no other option, but to deploy all his main pieces to battle for the last fight. Red defensed his territory steadily and did not give any chance for Black.Finally Red wins.

Zheng Weitong wins Zhou Jun: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

Zheng Weitong wins Zhou Jun

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

8th April 2017

Zheng Weitong started the game with elephant opening. Zhou Jun responded with Crossed Palace Cannon. Black defensed well, however made a mistake when offer to exchange the chariot. This mistake cost Black's horse. Red captured the horse and in advantages. 

Black tried his best to defense however still has to lose the game.

Li Xuesong draws to Wang Tianyi: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

Li Xuesong draws to Wang Tianyi

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

8th April 2017

Li Xuesong started with Elephant Opening whereas Wang Tianyi responded with Horse Opening. The whole game was rather stable. Although Wang Tianyi tried to deploy his main pieces to Red's flank for massive attack, however Red was playing well with good defend.

The game end-up with a draw.

Xie Jing wins Wei Qiang: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

Xie Jing wins Wei Qiang

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 2

8th April 2017

Xie Jing wins Wei Qiang

Xie Jing is the Grandmaster from Shanghai. His master is GM Hu RongHua.

In this game, Xie Jing started with Pawn Opening. Wei Qiang replied with Pawn Opening as well.

Xie Jing developed his ranked chariot and managed to reach river bank after exchanged the pawn. This is one of the common technique for Red to develop his chariot rapidly.

The situation rather in the opening stage and middle game.Red only has little advantages - one additional pawn. However, Black managed to capture the pawn as well. The board situation was stable. 

In the middle game, Red took the opportunity by crossing the only pawn to Black territory. With the help of this little pawn, Red had gained little advantages. With the support of this little pawn, Red was managed to deploy his horse to the front line. Red consolidated his force and massive attack.

In the transition, Black make another mistake and cost his horse. Red had gained the material and in huge advantages. Finally Black resigned.

Wang Yang wins Zhang BaoYou: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

Wang Yang wins Zhang BaoYou

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

Date: 8th April 2017

Games selection!

Wang Yang wins Zhang BaoYou

Wang Yang is a great Grand-master from China, however never wins any China National Champion Title.

In this game, Wang Yang started with Pawn Opening, Zhang Bao You replied with cannon under the pawn opening. During opening stage, Black had made a mistake. Red quickly took the advantages and finally won the game by using double cannons checkmate method.

Zhou Jun Loses to Jiang Chuan: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

Date: 8th April 2017

Zhou Jun Loses to Jiang Chuan

In this game, GM Jiang Chuan had demonstrated how to play a good game as Black. All players should learn these tactics.

Zhou Jun developed his opening as 56 Cannons Single Horse Defend, whereas Jiang Chuan used Sandwiched Horses Opening.  Obviously, Zhou Jun's opening strategy was initiated massive attack during opening. This is common for Red player. Whereas, Jiang Chuan's strategy was defenses and wait for opportunity. This is common as Black player. 

Liu Guanghui Loses to Zhao Xinxin: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

Date: 8th April 2017

Games selection!

Liu Guanghui Loses to Zhao Xinxin

GM Zhao XinXin always plays his game aggressively regardless of playing with Red or Black! 

This game is a good example. Zhao XinXin started attack first even played with Black. 

In the end game, Red calculated wrongly, thought there would be a draw after exchanged the piece. However, Zhao managed to protect his edge pawn, and led to winning point.

Dang Fei Draws to Zheng Weitong: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1
Date: 8th April 2017

Games selection!

Dang Fei Draws to Zheng Weitong

This is a typical example "draw menu".

See by yourself.

Wang Tianyi wins Bu Fengbo: 2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1

2017 China National Xiangqi Team Tournament - Round 1
Venue: Hangzhou, China
Date: 8th April 2017

Games selection!

Wang Tianyi wins Bu Fengbo

Wang Tianyi started the game with P7+1, Bu Fengbo replied with P7+1 as well. Wang Tianyi developed his opening as Screen Horses Defend with Double Ranked Chariot. Whereas, Bu Fengbo tried to consolidate his defend, responded with central elephant and ranked chariot.

In the middle game, players exchanged both of their chariots. Then, Wang Tianyi had gained little advantage with a 9th edge pawn.  Wang Tianyi deployed his 9th edge pawn and attack Black' weak horse. Bu Fengbo forced to defense most of time!