Last summer’s Forshang Cup was decided by a showdown game between two of Taiwan’s top players: GM Kui Lin WU, and the less-experienced Kuo Hsin CHEN. WU took Red, played a slow opening, and crushed his opponent in mysterious fashion. Since Phuc NGUYEN specializes in maneuvering strategy, Bill Brydon asked him why CHEN lost. Phuc’s answer: because he tried an obvious attack with Black against a better player.

RED: Kui Lin WU
BLACK: Kuo Hsin CHEN

Analysis by Phuc NGUYEN

See the game in java window, or in a text file in algebraic or WXF notation.

1. E3+5 C8=6 2. H2+3 P7+1 3. P7+1 H8+7 4. H8+7 R9=8 5. R1=2 H2+3 6. H7+6 R1+1

To me, this is the first mistake that Black makes. He wants to counter-attack and tries to get the advantage by bringing the chariot (rook) out fast. If I’m playing Red, I now know that Black will play C2+3, and then take the pawn with C2=7.

If I play Red against a GM, I have a 60% to 70% chance of getting a draw. The GM doesn’t have to do anything! If he doesn’t win the first game, he’ll probably win the second.

7. C8=6 C2+3 8. H6+7 R1=4 9. A4+5 C2+1 10.R9=8 C2=7

Black makes a mistake by capturing immediately. Better is 10... C2=3 first, exchanging the horse (knight). After this, Red has two moves: 11. C2+4 and 11. P7+1.

After 11. C2+4, Black can exchange pieces, and then it’s easy to draw: 11... C3-3 12. C2=7 R8+9 13. H3-2. Or Black can play 11... R4+3, and if 12. C2=3 R8+9 13. H3-2 E7+5 - no problem!

If Red plays 11. P7+1, Black plays 11... R8+4, and Red must play 12. C2=1 and exchange chariots immediately, or else 12... P7+1 will put him in trouble.

A bad move is 11. H7-8? Black gets the advantage with 11... R4+3.

11. P7+1!

A very good move. I learned something from this. At first I thought it was stupid because it blocks the horse. But the red pawn makes the difference.

11. .... R8+6

A bad mistake. Black loses a step (tempo) because the chariot later must retreat. If Black plays 11... R4+5, and the same moves are played, he is one step ahead: 12. R8+4 H7+6 13. P7=8 H3-5 14. R8=5 R8+3.

But I think better is 11... H7+6. Then if Red plays 12. R8+4, like in the game, Black has 12... R4+4 with a good game: 13. R8=6 H6+4 14. R2=4 (14. C2+5? H4+6! and Red’s in trouble) A6+5 15. C2=1.

12. R8+4 H7+6 13. P7=8 R4+5

The Black chariot turns out to be useless on this square. It dies here.

14. P8+1 H3-5 15. R8=5 R8-3 16. C2+3

Black is in trouble. He can’t play 16 ... H6-7, because 17. R2=4! H7+8 18. R4+7, and Red threatens a strong attack with H7+8.

17. R5=8 H5+6

Black plays this to block the file. But maybe 17... H5+7 18. R2=4 A6+5 would be better.

18. C2-1 E7+5

19. C2=4!

This is a winning move, forcing Black to exchange a key defender.

19. .... R8+6 20. H3-2 H6-8 21. H2+3 C7=6

If Black doesn’t go here, locking the cannons, he loses a piece. An immediate 21... P7+1? 22. C4-1! R4-2 23. R8=3 C7=8 24. R3=2.

22. C4=2 P7+1? (a diagram)

This is a mistake, opening the right side for Red. If Black doesn’t play this, he’s not in good shape, but he won’t die too fast. The best move is 22... A6+5. The position is complicated, but one possible line is 23. C2+2 H4-3 24. P8+1! (24. R8=4 C6=7 is no use) E5+3! 25. R8=7 E3+5 26. P8+1 H3+2 27. R7=8 P7+1 28. R8=3! and Red has a big advantage. If 28. R8+2? P7+1 would give Black a very strong attack.

Phuc NGUYEN

Once the cannon is down, it’s a very easy win.

24. .... A6+5 25. C2=1 P5+1 26. R3=2 C-=8 27. H3+4 P5+1 28. H4+3 C8=7 29. R2+5 C6-6 30. H3+1 E5-7 31. H1+3 (a diagram)

Phuc NGUYEN is one of North America’s top Xiangqi players. He won his master title at the 1997 World Cup, was a prize-winner at the 1999 Forshang Cup, and has won the last three Toronto championships. He will contribute to the Mindzine on a semi-regular basis.