By Dr. René Gralla, Hamburg, Germany
There is one basic problem that everyone faces who wants to learn XiangQi but who does not speak Chinese: the lack of sufficient literature on openings. You do not find answers even with regard to the most basic questions - and therefore you can only try out and find out by practical play.
One example: What can Black do in case that Red - in the scenario of the Left-to-Centre-Right Wing Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Windscreen Horses - does not advance the Left-wing Pawn by P7+1, as it is the convention? If Red unconventionally advances the RIGHT-(!!)-wing Pawn by P3+1? With the consequence that some tactical strikes that Black would routinely like to execute do not work now?!
Herewith some examples of the author's own experiences with that variant of Red attack. Maybe those miniatures can serve as a kind of guidelines.
EARLY OVER-THE-RIVER-THRUST BY "WRONG" RED RIGHT-WING PAWN
The commander of Red Army, a Chinese ex-patriate in Hamburg and an experienced amateur player, executes the thrust of the "wrong" Right-wing-Red Pawn (2.P3+1 ... after 1.C2=5).
Black has been inspired by Black's thrust of left wing Horse in the most instructive match >> C.C.Man vs. C.K.Lai << (London 1987) by 8. ... H7+8 (see: "Chinese Chess - Introduction to the Opening", Game 1, p.54) and proceeds like that (9. ... H7+8).
Red tries to counter that strike by the C.K.Lai-Horse by boldly pushing the advanced Right-wing Soldier one step further on across the River (10.P3+1?!?! ...), thus nonchalantly sacrificing his Right-wing Red Elephant (10. ... C7+8xE check) after letting his Right-wing Horse gallop to the Riverbank (8.H3+4!?! ...).
Red tries out the dubious sortie of Red King via the centre of Palace (11.K5+1? ...) after the demise of Red Elephant (10. ... C7+8xE check). But that leads - after 11. ... H8+9xP that menaces the brutal knock-out by 12. ... R8+8 mate - right into disaster.
Game No.1
Red: Da Lin
Black: Dr. Rene Gralla
May 7th, 2008, Hamburg, Germany; friendly game, Restaurant "Suedsee"
Left-to-Centre-Right Wing Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Windscreen Horses
Dr. Rene Gralla
Da Lin
1.C2=5 2.H8+7 2.P3+1 P3+1 3.H2+3 H2+3 4.R1=2 R9=8 5.C8=6 A4+5 6.R2+6 C8=9 7.R2=3xP C9-1 8.H3+4 C9=7 9.R3=4 H7+8 10.P3+1 C7+8xE check 11.K5+1 H8+9xP 12.C6-1 C2+6 check 13.Resigns 0-1
--- In case of 13.C6+1 ... or 13.C6+2 ... pp., then 13. ... R8+8 mate ---
++++
EARLY OVER-THE-RIVER-THRUST BY "WRONG" RED LEFT-WING PAWN - IN CASE OF COLOURS REVERSED
The case of colours reversed: The commander of Red Army, the co-owner of a Chinese restaurant in Hamburg, Germany that he runs together with his charming and energetic wife, Mrs. Peihua Chen, and who is a tough player of XiangQi, he executes the thrust of the "wrong" Left-wing-Red Pawn (2.P7+1 ... after 1.C8=5).
One more time Black has been inspired by Black's thrust of left wing Horse in the most instructive match >> C.C.Man vs. C.K.Lai << (London 1987) - that very 8. ... H7+8 (see: "Chinese Chess - Introduction to the Opening", Game 1, p.54) - and proceeds like that (9. ... H3+2).
Red tries to counter that strike by the C.K.Lai-Horse by boldly pushing the advanced Left-wing Soldier one step further on across the River (10.P7+1?!?! ...), thus nonchalantly sacrificing his Left-wing Red Elephant (10. ... C3+8xE check) after having let his Left-wing Horse gallop to the Riverbank (4.H7+6!?! ...), whilst Black has carelessly moved the somewhat wrong Bodyguard into the centre of Palace (5. ... A4+5?!? instead of correct 5. ... A6+5). After the check by Black Cannon Red correctly moves up the Left-wing Advisor (11.A6+5).
Black attacks via the right wing by cavalry (11. ... H2+1xP), and instead of trying to kill that Horse after hypothetically 12.R6=9xP ..., Red grabs Black's central Pawn first by Horse (12.H6+5xP ...) and then by Cannon (13.C5+4xH check).
That central position of Red artillery could be lethal, and Red proceeds to trying to enforce checkmate by Red chariot via Red line no.6 / Black line no. 4 on Red point 6x/Black point 4i after 15.K5=6 ... . But that sortie of Red King comes too late because Red has lost precious time by a mundane 14.C2+2? ... .
Consequence: Right-wing Black Chariot rumbles forward to Red base line (14. ... R2+9!), and after Red's Royal attack after 15.K5=6 ... (threatens checkmate indeed by 16.R6+3 mate ...), Black Horse speeds into action from Black point 1vii / Red point 9iv (17. ... H1+3 check). Checkmate is imminent after Red loses his Right-wing Chariot (18. ... C6=9xR check) and moves the surviving Advisor (19.A5-4? ...).
Game No.2
Red: Jianwei Huang
Black: Dr. Rene Gralla
February 20th, 2007, Hamburg, Germany; friendly game, Restaurant "Suedsee"
Right-to-Centre-Left Wing Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Windscreen Horses
Dr. Rene Gralla
Jianwei Huang
1.C8=5 H2+3 2.P7+1 R1=2 3.H8+7 H8+7 4.H7+6 P7+1 5.R9=8 A4+5 6.R8+6 C2=1 7.R8=7xP C1-1 8.H2+3 C1=3 9.R7=6 H3+2 10.P7+1 C3+8xE check 11.A6+5 H2+1xP 12.H6+5xP H7+5xP 13.C5+4xP check E3+5 14.C2+2 R2+9 15.K5=6 C3=6xA check 16.K6+1 R2-1 check 17.K6-1 H1+3 check 18.K6=5 C6=9xR check 19.A5-4 R2+1 check 20.Resigns 0-1
--- In case of 20.R6-6 ... , then 20. ... R2=4xR mate ---
++++
EARLY OVER-THE-RIVER-THRUST BY "WRONG" RED LEFT-WING PAWN - ONE MORE CASE OF COLOURS REVERSED
One more case of colours reversed: The commander of Red Army executes the thrust of the "wrong" Left-wing-Red Pawn (2.P7+1 ... after 1.C8=5).
One more time Black has been inspired by Black's thrust of left wing Horse in the most instructive match >> C.C.Man vs. C.K.Lai << (London 1987) - that brilliant 8. ... H7+8 (see: "Chinese Chess - Introduction to the Opening", Game 1, p.54) - and proceeds like that (10. ... H3+2).
Once more again Red tries to counter that strike by the C.K.Lai-Horse by boldly pushing the advanced Left-wing Soldier one step further on across the River (11.P7+1?!?! ...), thus nonchalantly sacrificing his Left-wing Red Elephant (11. ... C3+8xE check) after having let his Left-wing Horse gallop to the Riverbank (7.H7+6!?! ...).
Red loses time by pointless 9.R6+2 ... , and Black again attacks via the right wing by cavalry (12. ... H2+1xP). When Red tries to kill that cocky Horse after 12.R6=9xP ..., Black sacrifices that Horse for the sake of rushing to Red base line by Chariot (13. ... R2+9?!?!?!).
Red can not make up his mind to eat that Horse (after 14.R9-3xH ..., Black wins back that Horse by 14. ... C3=6xA check 15.A5-6 C6=8xH check), but grabs Black's central Pawn first by Cannon (14.C5+4xP check ...) and then by Horse (15.H6+5xH), a new try after Red's grabbing of Black's central Pawn first by Horse (12.H6+5xP?? ...) and then by Cannon (13.C5+4xH check) in >> Jianwei Huang vs. Dr. Rene Gralla (Hamburg, Germany, February 20th, 2007, casual)<<.
Consequence: Red loses his Right-wing Horse after 16. ... C6=8xH check and opts for perishing in style by sacrificing his Right-wing Chariot against Black Cannon (17.R1=2xC check ...). Black sacrifices his Horse by 20. ... R9=8!!, and if Red would have eliminated that squadron by Chariot (21.R6=7xH ...), the game would have continued as follows: 21. ... C4-2 check 22.K5+1 R8+7xC, and there is no defence against checkmate: 23. ... R2-1 check 24.K5-1 R8+2 mate.
But Red kills Horse by Cannon (21.C2=7xH ...), thus winning back some material. Unfortunately that does not stop the Black onslaught.
Game No.3
Red: Jianwei Huang
Black: Dr. Rene Gralla
July 31st, 2007, Hamburg, Germany; friendly game, Restaurant "Suedsee"
Right-to-Centre-Left Wing Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Windscreen Horses
Dr. Rene Gralla
Jianwei Huang
1.C8=5 H2+3 2.P7+1 R1=2 3.H8+7 H8+7 4.R9=8 P7+1 5.R8+6 C2=1 6.R8=7xP C1-1 7.H7+6 C1=3 8.R7=6 A6+5 9.R6+2 C8-1 10.R6-2 H3+2 11.P7+1 C3+8xE 12.A6+5 H2+1xP 13.R6=9xP R2+9 14.C5+4xP check H7+5xC 15.H6+5xH C3=6xA check 16.A5-6 C6=8xH check 17.R1=2xC check C8+8xR check 18.E3+1 H1+3 19.R9=6 C8=4xA 20.R6-4 R9=8 21.C2=7xH R8+9 check 22.K5+1 R2-1 check 23.K5+1 R8-2 mate 0-1
++++
BLACK DEFENDS AGAINST PAWN OPENING BY LEFT-TO-CENTER CANNON AND "WRONG" BLACK RIGHT-WING PAWN
This time the colours are reversed totally. Red opens the match by Pawn Opening (1.P3+1 ...), and Black counters by transforming the match into
Left-to-Centre-Right Wing Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Windscreen Horses. Again it is the push of the "wrong" Right-wing Pawn (6. ... P3+1) of Black army that attacks by Central Cannon, and the "wrong" Pawn storming across the River (9. ... P3+1!?!?) in an attempt to outplay Red's C.K.Lai-Horse move (9.H7+8 ...).
Once more it is the early sortie by Right-wing Horse to the Riverbank (7. ... H3+4), the loss of Black's Right-wing Elephant (10.C7+8xE check ...), the sacrifices of Red's left wing Horse for the sake of rushing to Black base line by Chariot (11.R8+9?!?!?! ...). Again Black can not make up his mind to eat that Horse (after 12. ... R1-3xH ..., Red wins back that Horse by 13.C7=4xA check A5-4 14.C4=2xH check E7+9 15.C2=6xA pp. ...).
Black tries out a new idea, namely to move Central Cannon one step right (!) of centre (12. ... C5=4!?) with the plan to counter Black's discovered check (13.C7=4xA check ...) by shielding Black King by Cannon (13. ... C4-2).
Red wins the Left-wing Black Horse (14.C4=2xH check ...) and succeeds in exchanging Cannons afterwards (15.C2=6xC ...). But then a horrible blunder by Red: He could have easily won the match by 16.R8-4! H4+3 (16. ... R1-3xH 17.R8=6xH ...) 17.H1+2 ... pp., but he hastily proceeds by 16.H1+2?? ... (thus "menacing" 17.R8=6xA check ...). Now Black finds the brilliant move 16. ... H4-3!!, and Red must give up his Horse again in order to save his Chariot (17.H2-4 check C8=4xH 18.R8-1 ...).
However, after that goof there will be one more Black goof later on, so in the end Red wins that match.
Game No.4
Red: Dr. Rene Gralla
Black: Jianwei Huang
February 2nd, 2009, Hamburg, Germany; friendly game, Restaurant "Suedsee"
Left-to-Centre-Right Wing Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Red Pawn Opening and Windscreen Horses
Jianwei Huang
Dr. Rene Gralla
1.P3+1 C2=5 2.H8+7 H2+3 3.R9=8 R1=2 4.H2+3 R2+6 5.C8=9 R2=3xP 6.C9-1 P3+1 7.A4+5 H3+4 8.C9=7 R3=4 9.H7+8 P3+1 10.C7+8xE check A4+5 11.H8+9xP R4=1xP 12.R8+9 C5=4 13.C7=4xA check C4-2 14.C4=2xH check E7+5 15.C2=6xC A5-4xC 16.H9+8 H4-3 17.H2-4 check C8=4xH 18.R8-1 ...
After one more Black goof Red army manages to defeat Black army in the end. 1-0
++++
ADVANCING "WRONG" RIGHT WING PAWN IN LEFT-TO-CENTRE-RIGHT WING-CANNON VERSUS WINDSCREEN HORSES
Finally it is not the early thrust of the "wrong" Right-wing Red Pawn across the River in Left-to-Centre-Right Wing-Cannon versus Windscreen Horses. Instead it is some wild play Teehouse-style: Black manages to advance the C.K.Lai-Horse by 8. ... H7+8, but faces a severe crisis after forgetting to strengthen the centre by A4+5.
Red tries to exploit that weakness by 9.R4+2!?!?... , and Black is forced to trade in the C.K.Lai-Horse against Red's Horse at the Riverbank (10. ... H8+6xH).
But again there is the chance to invade Red's base line by Chariot (11. ... R8+9!). Black wins Red's Left-wing Horse (14. ... C4=2xH), but the situation remains volatile, because of Black having not played A4+5 before (15.R6+5xA check ...).
But then a Red goof - Red wants to attack Black Cannon (17.C8=7??? ...), but overlooks a somewhat hidden checkmate (17.... R8=6 mate).
Game No. 5
Red: Da Lin
Black: Dr. Rene Gralla
March 4th, 2009, Hamburg, Germany; friendly game, Restaurant "Suedsee"
Left-to-Centre-Right Wing-Cannon-Over-the-River-Chariot Opening versus Windscreen Horses
Da Lin
1.P3+1 P3+1 2.C2=5 H8+7 3.H2+3 H2+3 4.R1=2 R9=8 5.R2+6 C8=9 6.R2=3xP C9-1 7.H3+4 C9=7 8.R3=4 H7+8 9.R4+2 C7+8xE check 10.A4+5 H8+6xH 11.R4-4xH R8+9 12.K5=4 C7=4xA check13.K4+1 R8-1 check 14.K4+1 C4=2xH 15.R4+5xA check K5+1 16.R9+1 C2-1 17.C8=7 R8=6 mate 0-1
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