Horse Opening (Qi Ma Ju) vs Central Cannon response
Red jumps a horse out first, delaying the cannon. A calm, flexible system favoured by players who like to build a solid position and steer the middlegame.
Central Cannon response: Black's Reply
Red may later play 炮二平五 to convert into a Central Cannon attack.
Strategic Context
Horse Opening avoids early confrontation and keeps many transpositions available. It often leads to a harmonious development where Red reacts to Black's setup.