Is Five-Eight too risky?

It is active rather than risky; the river cannon is well supported by the central cannon and a developing chariot.

Five-Eight Cannon (Wu Ba Pao)

炮二平五，炮八进四

An aggressive Central Cannon variant where the left cannon jumps to the river to harass Black's horses and seize space.

Five-Eight Cannon trades solidity for activity. The river cannon pins and pressures, but Red must watch the back rank.

Black builds 马8进7 + 马2进3 to blunt the attack.

Black answers 炮2平3, striking the soldier's base.

Is Five-Eight too risky?: It is active rather than risky; the river cannon is well supported by the central cannon and a developing chariot.

Central Cannon 炮二平五 Identical Cannons (Shun Pao) 炮二平五，炮8平5 Cross Cannons (Lie Pao) 炮二平五，炮2平5 Cross Palace Cannon (Guo Gong Pao) 炮二平六