What is the difference between 順炮 and 列炮?
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
Only which side Black's central cannon comes from. From the same side as Red's, you get 順炮 — symmetrical, sharp, decided by the extra tempo. From the other side, you get 列炮 — unbalanced, with the two players attacking on different wings.
What each one rewards
順炮 rewards precise calculation in a symmetrical race, where the same tactics are available to both and only the move order differs. 列炮 rewards understanding of which wing matters, because the position is asymmetric from the start and the two attacks are not comparable.
Which to choose
Neither is better. Most players learn one and stay with it, which is the right approach — the value is in knowing the middlegames, not in having both available.
Related questions
Is 列炮 riskier?
Different rather than riskier. Unbalanced positions are harder to judge but not objectively worse.
Which is more popular?
順炮 has the longer literature; both are mainstream.
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