Learn the main xiangqi opening systems — Central Cannon, Screen Horse, Reverse Palace Horse, Immortal Guides the Way — with core ideas, typical variations and replayable demo boards.
The Central Cannon is the classic Chinese chess opening. Learn why Cannon 2 to 5 is played, the main Red plans — cross-river chariot, river-patrolling chariot, double cannons — and how Black answers with Screen Horse, Reverse Palace Horse or Same-Direction Cannon.
Read more →The Screen Horse is the most popular system against the Central Cannon. Learn the two-horses-side-by-side structure, the move order, the standard counter-attacking plans and the mistakes to avoid, so you have a solid defend-then-counter framework.
Read more →The Reverse Palace Horse is a modern tournament favourite: a horse up, then a cannon onto the palace file. Learn the structure, how it differs from the Screen Horse, its counter-attacking plans, and what Red tries against it.
Read more →Immortal Guides the Way starts with a soldier push, keeping Red's intentions hidden and letting the reply decide the system. Learn the idea, the branches it can transpose into, and how Black answers.
Read more →Same-Direction Cannon is the classic double-edged opening where both sides plant a cannon on the centre file. Learn the straight-versus-horizontal chariot structure, Red's attacking priorities and Black's defensive counterplay.
Read more →Opposite Cannon is Black's direct answer to the Central Cannon: a cannon on the centre file from the other side. Learn how it differs from Same-Direction Cannon, the piece set-ups, and the key attacking and defensive points.
Read more →The Elephant Opening is the steadiest first move in Chinese chess: fly the elephant to the centre, secure the middle, then choose your plan. Learn the idea, Black's common replies, and how the middlegame unfolds.
Read more →The Horse Opening brings a horse out first and postpones the strategic decision, so the opponent has no clear target. Learn the idea, the common replies, and where it can transpose in the middlegame.
Read more →The river-patrolling chariot stops on your own side of the river: it keeps the pressure on without offering targets. Learn how it differs from the cross-river chariot, and the attacking and defensive points of the middlegame.
Read more →The Opposite Palace Cannon slides a cannon across to the other side of the palace, concentrating pieces on one wing. Learn the structure, its advantages and risks, and how the middlegame plans work.
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