How do I keep a useful xiangqi training log?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
Record the cause of each loss, not just the result. A log that only tracks wins and losses tells you nothing useful; one that notes, in a sentence, what actually went wrong in each loss builds a record you can review later to spot the mistake that keeps recurring across otherwise unrelated games.
What to actually write down
One line per lost game is enough: the move where things turned, and what you failed to look at, following the same approach described in how to review your own games. Over time this short record becomes far more valuable than the games themselves, because patterns across many games are what a single review misses.
Reviewing the log itself
Every few weeks, read back through the entries rather than just adding new ones. If the same cause, a missed cannon screen, a blocked horse leg, keeps showing up, that is worth a dedicated study session on its own.
Related questions
Should I log wins too?
Occasionally, especially uncomfortable ones, but losses carry far more information per game.
Is this worth the extra time after a game?
A minute or two per game, for a record that pays off every time you review it. It is a good trade.
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