IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF EPAMEINONDAS (II)

ANCIENT CHINA ON THE BOARD OF XIANGQI - THE OBLIQUE BATTLE ORDER AND THE LEGACY OF GENERAL GUAN YU

Red against Black - these are the colours on the board of XiangQi. And as the historians know: Red was the colour of ancient Han, Black was the colour of ancient Chu.

So it is Han against Chu on the board of XiangQi: Each match is a kind of commemoration of the epic battles of the Warring States Period.

With the consequence as follows: It is the southern (!) Chu - that is to say: Black - against the northern (!) Han - that is to say: Red - during a match of Chinese Chess.

And now a look at the map of ancient China reveals a very astonishing fact: the fact that there has been the custom to let Black start the games of XiangQi during the last century in China, that interesting custom has made sense indeed, provided, Black is perceived to represent historic Chu and Red is perceived to represent historic Han on the board.

So, if we have a look at the common diagrams on XiangQi, on board it is the northern (!!) Red - at the "bottom" of the diagrams - versus the southern (!!) Black - on top of the diagrams. It is not the "southern" Red against the "northern" Black as many long-nosed Westerners assume: those Westerners who are used to the Euro-centric look at the world; concerning to the latter North is always riding on top of maps - whereas South is hunkering down below.

No, in XiangQi it is vice versa - provided we pay tribute to the historic origins of XiangQi.

The author is very thankful to Mr. Quoc Cuong Phan - born in Saigon, Vietnam and now living in Hamburg, Germany - who has pointed out to the foregoing historic facts with special reference to the geography of ancient China. And he has explained to the author the consequences for the allocation of the two armies in Black and Red respectively on the board of XiangQi.

In order to try out the historically-based way of opening a match of XiangQi - let South (=Black ) make the first move - the author has tested the consequences on the board in collaboration with Mr. Elvis Quang Cao, a compatriot of Mr. Quoc Cuong Phan. ...

And that is the result - an encounter with Black (!) making the first move.

Red: Elvis Quang Cao
Black: Dr. Rene Gralla
Friendly match, Boutique "ASIA Express" , Hamburg/Germany; November 7th, 2006

Central Cannon plus River-crossed Chariot versus Screen-Horse

The usual perspective reversed: Southern (!) Black makes the first move versus Northern (!) Red during a friendly match of XiangQi on November 7th, 2006 at Hamburg, Germany (photo credit: Christoph Harder)

So far conforming to the books: It is "Central Cannon plus River-crossed Chariot versus Screen-Horse". With the bonus-move of 1. ... P1+1 for Black.

A new idea: More usual are 12. C5=6 ... or 12. R9+1 ... .

Risky tactics.

Getting back the lost officer-piece - but only because of the opener 1. ... P1+1 .

Bitter surprise for the General of Han: The Southern soldier on Black Point 1v/Red Point 9vi is blocking the otherwise possible defence of Northern Cannon 8v by Red Horse 9vii .

Over optimistic: Now Red will win either an Elephant or an officer-piece on the left flank of Chu. By far better: 18. ... C7=2xH with overwhelming position for Southern troups.

Northern Chariot exploits the lacking coordination of the Southern units on the left flank of Chu.

Trying to make the best out of that mess: luring Red Chariot in the outer-most corner.

Now one of Black officer-pieces is gone.

Chu tries to bluff the enemy - by betting on the weak left flank of Han. But that is very risky.

And not necessary at all: "Black could have simply answered with 20. .... E5-3, still having a clear upper hand". That is the proposal of Mr. Felix Tan, Chairman of the Study Commission of the World XiangQi Federation (WXF) who has been so kind to analyse that match for us.

After 21.R3+1xE ... Red wins an Elephant, but his Chariot will have problems to get back into the game again while the Black attack keeps rolling on.

Too greedy. Mr. Felix Tan says: "Red 's capture 22.R1-2xP ... wastes a crucial tempo in organising the defence. 22.A4+5! ... should have been played, opening a safe escape route for the monarch. As Red's Chariot is ready to guard his 4th file with R1=4, Black's Horse-Chariot attack will come to nothing in the end." The author expresses his sincerest thanks to Mr. Felix Tan for that commentary.

Screenshot of the position after Black's cavalry swing 22. ... H4+2! (photo credit: Dr. Rene Gralla)

Bad surprise for the Red HQ of Northern Han: On its left flank which has been stripped of defenders the rough-riders in bellicose black and blue from Southern Chu are closing in - after 22. ... H4+2! (photo credit: Irregular Miniatures).

Now the menace: 23. ... H2+3 check plus 24. ... H3+1xR and 23. ... H3+4 check 24.K5+1 R2+7 mate .

The desperate finale assault by Black Horse pays off: The Commander of Han loses his balance- and the battle, in the end. Red should have tried out 23. K5+1!! ... instead.

The final mistake: obviously that turn of events has been too much for Red.

Red Horse tries to escape its fate -in vain.

Red Horse is lost:

It is amazing: By swift counter-attack Black has been able to compensate for the lost officer-piece.

Therefore this commemorative play of the history of Han and Chu is one more instructive example of the well-known scenario of the "Oblique Battle Order" that has been discussed in part one of our piece on that ages-old stratagem: "In the Footsteps of Epameinondas (I)".

With one particularity in this actual case: The classic pattern of Oblique Battle Order is characterized by a death-defying attack on the left wing - see the Battle of Leuktra in 371 B.C.; however, during the foregoing match of [Elvis Quang Cao vs. Dr. Rene Gralla ](Hamburg 2006), the decisive thrust of the weaker party against the stronger opponent has been pushed through on the right wing.

In the following one more precedent of Oblique Battle Order-tactics on the right wing - but this time applied by both warring parties. And the race is on which army will be the first one to storm the fortifications of the enemy.

Red: Dr. Rene Gralla
Black: Fu Nguyen Viet

Friendly match, Restaurant "Bac Ho", Hamburg/Germany; October 2nd, 2004

Soon after the first moves both armies have been engaged in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Now Red is leading by the margin of one soldier - but that material advantage is bound to vanish in thin air after the next Black move. The Han Command has been able to direct a Red Horse to the forward position on Red Point 5vii (Black Point 5iv) - but without supporting troops it will be impossible to hold on to that outpost if Chu starts a counter-attack.

Instead of equalizing the minus in material Black wants to overrun the left wing of Red.

Red transfers that left-wing mechanized unit to his right wing, because there is looming a gap at the left wide-open flank of Black.

Thunder and lightning: an unexpected sacrifice by Black Cannon on Black Point 4x (Red Point 6i). The vaporization of Red's left wing Advisor shall wreck the bulwark of Northern Han. Black resorts to Oblique Battle Order-tactics: The Southern attack shall be carried forward via the right wing of Chu.

The punch line ...

... and the counter-punch line: It is likely that Black has overlooked that riposte.

5.C7-4! ... : Han artillery blocks the onslaught by Chu (photo credit: Irregular Miniatures).

The battered soil of Chu is trembling with the rattling of the intruding Red Army's armoured vehicles.

The Northern Command sacrifices one Chariot in order to roll up the left-wing Black front.

The Chu General has no choice but to make a grab on Black Point 6i (Red Point 4x): 7. ... K5+1?? 8.R2+8 mate.

The last-minute-employment of the central Black Elephant would have been a total flop: 8. ... E5-7?? 9.R2=3xE mate.

First reaction by Master Fu: Reflex-like he wants to order his King back to Black Point 6i (Red Point 4x). But just before starting to execute that move he realizes the fatal consequences: 9. ... K6-1 10.H5+3 check ...

Cavalry closing in - by 10.H5+3 check ... (photo credit: Irregular Miniatures)

Han Knights are charging - inspired with the fighting spirit of the great General of Cavalry, Guan Yu.

Riding from victory to victory: General Guan Yu (160 - 219 A.D.)

A demonstration for the military manual how the Oblique Battle Order works. It is important to reach superiority at that very part of the battle-field where the enemy defense is weak. Red may be one Chariot behind - but at the left flank of Black's Palace there the forlorn Chu General is helpless against the coordinated action by Han's Horse plus Chariot. Consequence: 10. ... K6=5 11.R2+1 check E5-7 12.R2=3xE mate.

But now terrible shelling from the opposite wing:

Chu has no choice but to surrender. If 10. ... E5-7 or 10. ... E5+7 or 10. ... E5+3, there will always follow check-mate either by 11.R2-1 mate or 11.C6+5 mate.

That's it:

The race of two armies having tried to win the day by the tactics of Oblique Battle Order has been decided. This time by Red.

Summary: The Oblique Battle Order is a common plan by chief commands in Chinese Chess. So you have to act very fast if you want to resort to the Oblique Battle Order.

Otherwise you will get in an ominous awkward position soon