#15 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red A4+5 or A6+5 variation.

#15 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red A4+5 or A6+5 variation.

Outcome: Advantage to Black

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7    3. R1=2  R9+1    4. A4+5  …………

Red A4+5 was common in old days.
For this variation, what is the best move for Black?

#14 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red C8=6 then C6+5 variation.

#14 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red C8=6 then C6+5 variation.

Outcome: Advantage to Black

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7    3. R1=2  R9+1    4. C8=6  …………

As mentioned in earlier post, Red C8=6 is not efficient.

  4. …………  H2+3    5. H8+7  R1=2    6. R9=8  C2+4    7. C6+5  …………

In this variation, Red plays C6+5 to attack Black's left horse.

What is the best move for Black to respond?

Xiangqi Puzzle: Creative way to checkmate

Xiangqi Puzzle: Creative way to checkmate

Recently I came across this puzzle from Facebook Xiangqi Page.

A brilliant and excellent idea to solve this puzzle.

Red moves first and wins. Answer is at the bottom of the page.

Red moves first and wins

#13 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red C8=6 variation.

#13 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red C8=6 variation.

Outcome: Advantage to Black

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7
  3. R1=2  R9+1

Both reaches Same Direction Cannon Filed Chariot vs Ranked Chariot variation.

  4. C8=6  …………

As mentioned earlier, the most effective move for Red would be P3+1.
However, in this variation, Red plays C8=6.This is also a common mistake for Xiangqi Beginners.

Let see how to gain the advantages for this mistake.

#12 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red R2+4, Black R9=4 variation.

#12 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red R2+4, Black R9=4 variation.

Outcome: Advantage to Black

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7
  3. R1=2  R9+1    4. R2+4  …………

I have seen many Xiangqi beginners like to play R2+4 in this situation, however this is not the smart move for Red.As discussed, the most effective move for Red would be P3+1.
In this point, how can Black gain the advantage?

#11 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red R2+6, Black R9=4 variation.

#11 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red R2+6, Black R9=4 variation.

Outcome: Advantage to Red

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7
  3. R1=2  R9+1    4. R2+6  …………

As mentioned in previous post #10, Red R2+6 is not efficient. The correct move for Red would be P3+1.

  4. …………  R9=4

We had concluded that Black P3+1 would lead the advantage to Black if Red played R2+6 in previous move.

However, Black plays R9=4 instead of P3+1.

In this case, how could Red gain the advantages?

#10 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red R2+6 variation.

#10 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red R2+6 variation.

Outcome: Advantage to Black

  1. C2=5  C8=5

Same Direction Cannon Opening confirmed.

  2. H2+3  …………

Red developed his right horse.

Another valid move for Red would be R1+1 for Ranked Chariot formation.

However, Same Direction Cannon Ranked Chariot is out of the scope in this chapter.

  2. …………  H8+7

Now is Black's turn to develop his left horse.

Black also could play R9+1, it would lead to the same variation.
.

  3. R1=2  R9+1    4. R2+6  …………

As mentioned in previous post, the most effective moves for "Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot" are as below:

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7
  3. R1=2  R9+1    4. P3+1  R9=4
  5. H8+7  H2+3    6. P7+1  R1+1

As seen on board, Red plays R2+6 instead of P3+1 in ply #4. R2+6 is not a effective move for Red. Black must know how to utilize Red's mistake and turn it into his own advantages.

  4. …………  P3+1

Black P3+1 would be the most effective move to against Red. 

Actual End Game played!

Actual Xiangqi End Game played!

This is the actual end game within the author and a xiangqi friend at Seremban...a small town in Malaysia.
At the end, Red won the game due to Black's mistake. However, it is interesting to analyze whether there is a better move for Red to win the game.
After analysis in deep, there is a simple way to checkmate.

Let try it and left your comment/feedback in the comment column.

Red moves and wins. Have fun!

Answer is at the bottom of the page.

Red moves first and wins

2016马來西亚全国象棋团体赛棋谱直播

2016马來西亚全国象棋团体赛棋谱直播

http://www.dpxq.com/hldcg/search/?s=list%2Easp%3Fowner%3Dkedahlive%26page%3D1

第1轮： 22/12/2016， 730pm

第1轮第1台第1桌

http://www.dpxq.com/hldcg/search/view_u_1177003.html

第1轮第1台第2桌

http://www.dpxq.com/hldcg/search/view_u_1177004.html

第1轮第1台第3桌

http://www.dpxq.com/hldcg/search/view_u_1177005.html

第1轮第1台第4桌

http://www.dpxq.com/hldcg/search/view_u_1177007.html

#9 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Black R9=8 variation

#9 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Black R9=8 variation

Outcome: Advantage to Red!





  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  …………

Red developed his right 's horse.

  2. …………  H8+7

Black also developed his left's horse.

  3. R1=2  …………

Red plays R1=2 for Filed Chariot, which is more popular than R1+1.

Based on games statistic, Red R1=2 has a higher winning rate if compared with R1+1.This might be the reason why R1=2 is more popular than R1+1.

Red also could play R1+1 for Ranked Chariot, however this is out of our discussion in this chapter.

  3. …………  R9=8

Since Red R1=2 has a higher winning rate, could Black trade his left chariot with Red's filed chariot? This is a common question has been asked by several Xiangqi beginners.

#8 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red C5+4 variation

#8 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot - Red C5+4 variation

Outcome: Advantage to Black!

  1. C2=5  C8=5

Black player is the one who initiated Same Direction Cannon variation.
Therefore it is very important for Black to understand the variation in detail before select C8=5 for Same Direction Cannon.

Black player should know how to counter attack if Red made a mistake.

  2. C5+4  …………

The first question should ask about Same Direction Cannon is can Red play C5+4 in this move?

By playing C5+4, Red had gained the middle pawn immediately. However, is it a smart move?

#7 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot

#7 Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot

One of the famous Same Cannon Direction Cannon variation at modern day is "Same Direction Cannon Double Headed Snake Pawn Formation vs Double Ranked Chariot" variation.

The move list as below.

  1. C2=5  C8=5    2. H2+3  H8+7
  3. R1=2  R9+1    4. P3+1  R9=4
  5. H8+7  H2+3    6. P7+1  R1+1

  1. 炮二平五  炮８平５    2. 马二进三  马８进７
  3. 车一平二  车９进１    4. 兵三进一  车９平４
  5. 马八进七  马２进３    6. 兵七进一  车１进１

There are total 6 moves to form this variation.These are the most efficient moves by both players.
If any of the player did not follow the move-list, the other party would gain the initiative immediately!