The Grand Tournament (main line)

Seven Stars: the classic xiangqi ending

61 moves

The Seven Stars ending (七星聚會), the most celebrated of the classical xiangqi compositions. Position keyed from Kliene's 1916 English edition of Seven Stars, which follows the 1801 manual One Hundred Variations (百局象棋譜). Seven men per side; the seven pawns are said to trace the Big…

Red opens with the cannon check, screened by the red pawn on f8. The branches at this first move are Kliene's Preliminary Movements: the other tries, each followed to its forced end.

A pawn that has crossed the river may capture sideways: the only good answer to the check.

Red gives rook for pawn. The pawn cloud around the red palace is worth more than the exchange.

Black recaptures with the neighbouring pawn, renewing the check.

Drawn, with seven men left on the board: the seven stars.