---
title: "What a Typical Beginner Opening Sequence Looks Like · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Red often plays the Central Cannon and Black answers with Screen Horses, a natural pairing of attack and defence that teaches most of what an opening needs to."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/what-does-a-typical-opening-sequence-look-like-for-beginners
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# What does a typical opening sequence look like for a beginner?

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
>
> A common start: Red plays **炮二平五** (Central Cannon, C2=5), aiming a cannon straight at the centre. Black replies **馬8進7** (H8+7), developing a horse that also defends the central soldier. Both sides then bring out their other horse and a chariot before deciding on a plan. It is not the only reasonable start, but it is the one you will meet most often.

## Why this exact pairing is so common

The Central Cannon creates an immediate, concrete threat down the central file, and Screen Horses answers it efficiently, in one move it develops a piece and defends the point under pressure. Between them they demonstrate the two core opening ideas, create a threat, meet a threat, better than almost any other starting sequence. See [the Central Cannon](https://xiangqimaster.com/openings/central-cannon) and [Screen Horses](https://xiangqimaster.com/openings/screen-horses).

## What comes after those first two moves

Typically both sides continue developing: a second horse, a chariot brought toward an open file, and a decision about which elephant or advisor arrangement to settle into. Nothing about this early stage needs memorising; it follows naturally from "develop pieces, meet threats, keep the general safe" applied one move at a time.

## Related questions

Do I have to play the Central Cannon as Red?

No. It is simply the most common and most instructive first move, not a requirement. See [choosing an opening](https://xiangqimaster.com/openings/choosing-an-opening) for sound alternatives.

What if my opponent doesn't play Screen Horses as Black?

Perfectly normal; several other replies are sound. Screen Horses is simply the one you will see most often and the one worth learning first.

## Related xiangqi resources

The Central Cannon

The most played first move in the game

Screen Horses

The main defence to the Central Cannon

Opening principles

What the first ten moves are actually for

## Try it on a real board

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