Openings

Openings

The Screen Horses Defense: Black's Most Solid Answer to the Central Cannon, How to Set It Up and How to Play From It

The Screen Horses (Bình phong Mã) is Black's classic reply to the Central Cannon. How to build it, what each piece does, typical plans, and mistakes to avoid.

28/09/2026 5 min read

Openings

Same Direction and Opposite Direction Cannons: When Black Answers the Central Cannon With a Central Cannon of Its Own

Both sides put a cannon in the center. How Same Direction and Opposite Direction Cannons differ, why they lead to sharp play, and plans and dangers for each sid

28/09/2026 5 min read

Openings

The Pawn Opening in Xiangqi (P7+1): A Flexible First Move That Frees a Horse and Keeps Every Plan Open

P7+1 or P3+1, the Pawn opening, is a flexible first move. What it prepares, how Black commonly answers, and why many players choose it over the Central Cannon.

28/09/2026 5 min read

Openings

The Elephant Opening in Xiangqi (E3+5): A Solid First Move That Builds a Safe Palace and Waits for Black to Commit

E3+5, the Elephant opening, starts with defense instead of attack. What it achieves, how play usually develops, and when it suits you better than the Central Ca

28/09/2026 5 min read

Openings

Choosing a Xiangqi Opening Repertoire: One Plan for Red, Two Answers for Black, and How to Grow It Without Memorizing Lines

How to build a small, practical xiangqi opening repertoire: pick one Red system, two Black replies, learn the ideas behind them, and expand only when games dema

28/09/2026 5 min read

Openings

The Central Cannon Opening (C2=5): Xiangqi's Most Popular First Move, Its Ideas, Main Replies and Typical Plans

The Central Cannon, C2=5, is xiangqi's most played first move. What it attacks, how Black usually answers, the plans that follow, and the traps to avoid.

28/09/2026 6 min read