---
title: "順炮 vs 列炮: What Is the Difference? · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Which side Black's central cannon comes from. Same side gives 順炮 and a symmetrical game; the other side gives 列炮 and an unbalanced one."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-shun-pao-and-lie-pao
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# 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.

## Related xiangqi resources

Same direction cannons

順炮 — the sharpest symmetrical opening

The Central Cannon

The most played first move in the game

Xiangqi openings

The opening reference

## Try it on a real board

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