Xiangqi openings

Xiangqi openings are named for the shape they build, not for the player who invented them — 屏风马 is a “screen of horses” because that is what it looks like. Learn the shape and the name comes free.

Every line below is the book this site plays with: the board names your opening as you play it and stops once the game leaves theory.

Red’s first move

Red moves first, and this choice sets the character of the whole game.

• Move 1 of 1

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3

  Central Cannon

  中炮1 move deep

  The most aggressive and most played first move — the cannon eyes the enemy general down the middle file from move one.

• Move 1 of 1

  1. 1. 炮 b3–e3

  Central Cannon (left)

  左中炮1 move deep

  The same central battery, developed from the other wing.

• Move 1 of 1

  1. 1. 相 g1–e3

  Elephant Opening

  飞相局1 move deep

  A quiet, solid start — shore up the centre first and let Black commit.

• Move 1 of 1

  1. 1. 傌 h1–g3

  Horse Opening

  起马局1 move deep

  Flexible development that keeps every central plan available.

• Move 1 of 1

  1. 1. 兵 c4–c5

  Pawn Opening

  仙人指路1 move deep

  "The immortal points the way" — a waiting move that asks Black to show their setup first.

• Move 1 of 1

  1. 1. 炮 h3–f3

  Palcorner Cannon

  士角炮1 move deep

  The cannon takes the advisor's diagonal — a flexible, less-charted alternative to the centre.

Black’s replies

How Black answers — above all, how Black answers the Central Cannon.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 馬 b10–c8

  Central Cannon vs Screen Horses

  中炮对屏风马2 moves deep

  The great main line of Xiangqi. Black's two horses defend each other in front of the general like a folding screen.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 砲 h8–e8

  Same-Direction Cannons

  顺炮2 moves deep

  Black answers a central cannon with one on the same side — sharp, symmetrical and famously double-edged.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 砲 b8–e8

  Opposite-Direction Cannons

  列炮2 moves deep

  Black meets the centre cannon from the other wing, unbalancing the position immediately.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 馬 b10–a8

  Central Cannon vs Single Horse

  中炮对单提马2 moves deep

  Black develops a horse to the edge, keeping the central file clear for a counterattack.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 車 i10–i9

  Central Cannon vs Three Steps Tiger

  中炮对三步虎2 moves deep

  Black rushes the chariot out along the back rank — three moves to an active piece.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 相 g1–e3
  2. 1… 砲 h8–e8

  Elephant Opening vs Central Cannon

  飞相对中炮2 moves deep

  Black seizes the centre that Red declined.

• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 相 g1–e3
  2. 1… 馬 b10–c8

  Elephant Opening vs Screen Horses

  飞相对屏风马2 moves deep
• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 傌 h1–g3
  2. 1… 砲 h8–e8

  Horse Opening vs Central Cannon

  起马对中炮2 moves deep
• Move 2 of 2

  1. 1. 兵 c4–c5
  2. 1… 砲 b8–c8

  Pawn Opening, Cannon Reply

  仙人指路对卒底炮2 moves deep

  The standard sharp answer — Black's cannon takes aim at the pawn Red just advanced.

Main lines

Where the well-trodden variations lead once both sides have committed.

• Move 4 of 4

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 馬 b10–c8
  3. 2. 傌 h1–g3
  4. 2… 馬 h10–g8

  Central Cannon vs Screen Horses, Chariot Files

  中炮过河车对屏风马4 moves deep

  Both sides complete the standard setup; the fight is about who gets a chariot across the river first.

• Move 6 of 6

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 馬 b10–c8
  3. 2. 傌 h1–g3
  4. 2… 馬 h10–g8
  5. 3. 俥 i1–h1
  6. 3… 車 i10–i9

  Central Cannon, Chariot Crosses the River

  中炮过河车6 moves deep

  Red's chariot heads for the fifth rank to pressure Black's horse before the defence is set.

• Move 4 of 4

  1. 1. 炮 h3–e3
  2. 1… 砲 h8–e8
  3. 2. 傌 h1–g3
  4. 2… 馬 h10–g8

  Same-Direction Cannons, Screen Horses

  顺炮直车对横车4 moves deep

Reading the Chinese names

Opening names are built from a handful of words. Learn these nine and most names read themselves.

More characters, including every piece in red and black, are on chess in Chinese.

Common questions

What is the best opening in Xiangqi?

The Central Cannon (中炮) is the most played and the most testing first move — it points a cannon at the enemy General down the middle file immediately. It is not objectively winning, and at every level the Elephant Opening (飞相局) and Horse Opening (起马局) are entirely sound, quieter choices.

What is the most common reply to the Central Cannon?

Screen Horses (屏风马) — Black develops both horses so they defend one another in front of the General. Central Cannon versus Screen Horses is the single most analysed structure in Xiangqi.

How many opening moves should a beginner learn?

Two or three. Learn the Central Cannon as Red and Screen Horses as Black, understand why each move is played, and stop there. Xiangqi punishes memorised lines played without the plan behind them faster than it punishes not knowing them.

Does XiangqiPlay tell me which opening I am playing?

Yes. The board names your opening as you play, from this same book, and stops naming it once the game leaves known theory.

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