---
title: "The Most Common Xiangqi Opening · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Central Cannon against Screen Horses — 炮二平五 馬8進7 — is the most played opening pairing in the game."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/what-is-the-most-common-opening-in-xiangqi
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 most common opening in xiangqi?

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
>
> **Central Cannon against Screen Horses**: 炮二平五 馬8進7. Red's cannon takes the central file and Black's horse defends the central soldier while developing. It is the most played pairing in xiangqi at every level, and the one most players should learn first.

## Why this pairing dominates

Red's move is the most direct way to create a threat, and Black's is the most efficient way to answer it. Neither side is doing anything clever — they are both playing the most economical move available — which is exactly why the pairing recurs.

## What it teaches

Between them they cover both halves of the game: the Central Cannon teaches how an attack is built, Screen Horses teaches how one is stopped. That is why it is the standard recommendation rather than simply the most frequent.

## Related questions

Are there other common first moves?

Yes — [相三進五](https://xiangqimaster.com/openings/elephant-opening) and [兵七進一](https://xiangqimaster.com/openings/pawn-opening) are both mainstream.

Does Red have to play the Central Cannon?

No, it is just the most direct. Several alternatives are fully sound.

## Related xiangqi resources

The Central Cannon

The most played first move in the game

Screen Horses

The main defence to the Central Cannon

Xiangqi openings

The opening reference

## Try it on a real board

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