The Central Cannon is every Chinese chess player's first opening. It points straight at the opponent's centre pawn, it is uncompromising, and it is still played from club level to the professional circuit.

1. What the Central Cannon is

Red's first move is Cannon 2 to 5 (or Cannon 8 to 5): the cannon goes to the centre file, facing Black's centre pawn. Its value is not the immediate capture — it is that:

  • it threatens the centre pawn, so Black must choose a defensive or counter-attacking structure;
  • it frees Red's left horse, opening the way for both knights;
  • it creates long-term pressure down the centre that chariots and horses can build on.

Black's first reply more or less decides the shape of the whole game, which is why learning the Central Cannon really means learning the system "Central Cannon against every reply".

2. Red's core plan

The idea is central pressure plus development on both wings:

  1. Horses to their natural posts — protect the centre soldier and control the key squares;
  2. Chariots out — onto open files or behind the cannon, so the heavy pieces start working early;
  3. Push one soldier — free a horse and make space for the cannon or a chariot.

After those three steps Red's major pieces are out and the centre cannon is ready to combine with a chariot.

3. The main attacking plans

Cross-river chariot — Chariot 2 up 6, crossing into Black's half and pressing the right wing. The most direct plan: it restricts Black's horse and cannon, but it also gives Black targets to attack. Suits aggressive players.

River-patrolling chariot — Chariot 2 up 4, stopping on the river. Steadier than crossing: it keeps the pressure without offering easy targets for cannon and horse.

Double cannon (Five-Six Cannon) — Cannon 8 to 6 and then the horse up, giving one steady and one attacking cannon. Simpler theory, good for building a first repertoire.

Straight and horizontal chariots — one chariot on a file, one on a rank, creating a two-dimensional attacking set-up.

4. How Black usually answers

Screen Horse — both horses to their natural posts, side by side like a screen, defending the centre pawn and the wings. The most popular and deepest reply, and the one most worth studying first.

Reverse Palace Horse — horses up, then a cannon to the palace file, giving an elastic defensive structure with a sharp counter. Very popular in modern tournament play.

Same-Direction Cannon — Black also plays Cannon 8 to 5, so both sides face the same way. Open, double-edged positions that suit players who like a fight.

Opposite Cannon — Black plays Cannon 2 to 5, facing Red's cannon the other way. Equally sharp, but it demands more accurate middlegame calculation.

5. Practical points and common mistakes

  • Do not grab the centre pawn too early. After the cannon takes it, the central pressure usually disappears and the opponent gets free time to organise.
  • Watch the horse leg. The centre is crowded, so your own horses are easy to block; soldier moves should serve the horse.
  • Do not cross the river without support. A chariot that goes over alone can be trapped by horse and cannon.
  • Keep the pieces coordinated. The worst mistake in a Central Cannon game is one piece charging while the rest sit at home.

Next, read the Screen Horse and Reverse Palace Horse guides so the two main branches — Central Cannon versus Screen Horse and Central Cannon versus Reverse Palace Horse — become familiar. In practice, play the same opening against the AI at medium level until the patterns are automatic, then take it into real games.