---
title: "How to Answer the Central Cannon in Xiangqi · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Screen Horses is the main answer: 馬8進7 defends the central soldier and develops a piece with the same move."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/what-should-black-play-against-the-central-cannon
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# What should Black play against the Central Cannon?

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
>
> **Screen Horses** — **馬8進7**. It defends the threatened central soldier *and* develops a piece, which is exactly what every other reply fails to do. The alternative is a central cannon of your own, giving 順炮 or 列炮 depending on which side it comes from.

## Why passive defences fail

The natural beginner reply is to defend the soldier with something that does nothing else — an advisor, or a second soldier move. Those defend but cost a tempo, and against a Central Cannon a tempo is what the whole opening is about. Several moves later Black is defending with one fewer developed piece and it does not get better.

## The counterattacking option

Answering a central cannon with your own turns the game around: Black becomes an attacker too. It is sharper and requires more precise calculation, since every tactic is mutual and Red's extra move decides who gets there first.

## Related questions

Is Screen Horses hard to learn?

No — the first few moves are natural and the plans are clear. It is the standard recommendation for a reason.

Can I just ignore the threat?

No. Losing the central soldier opens the file toward your own general.

## Related xiangqi resources

Screen Horses

The main defence to the Central Cannon

The Central Cannon

The most played first move in the game

Same direction cannons

順炮 — the sharpest symmetrical opening

## Try it on a real board

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