◇ Just read — no move neededBefore the river
A soldier (兵/卒) steps exactly one point forward and never back. Before the river it is the weakest piece on the board — at home it can only press the single point ahead, which is why careful players spend opening pawn pushes sparingly. But position is everything: a soldier standing on the river bank already threatens to cross, and the whole pawn chapter later is about spending that crossing well.