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Chinese Chess - Xiangqi

5 Foot Soldiers - FS
2 Rooks - RO
2 Knights - KN
2 Ministers - MR
2 Cannons - CN
2 Advisers - AD
1 General - GE

above: Chinese chess - Chesmayne style/format

below: Chinese chess - pieces numbered

R02	KN2	MR2	AD2	GE	AD1	MR1	KN1	R01

	CN2						CN1
FS5		FS4		FS3		FS2		FS1


FS1		FS2		FS3		FS4		FS5
	CN1						CN2

R01	KN1	MR1	AD1	GE	AD2	MR2	KN2	R02

below: Korean ‘initial starting position’ - ISP - same 9 x 10 board

KZ2	KH2	KP2	KA2		KA1	KP1	KH1	KZ1
				GE
	KX2						KX1
KS5		KS4		KS3		KS2		KS1


KS1		KS2		KS3		KS4		KS5
	KX1						KX2
				GE
KZ1	KH1	KP1	KA1		KA2	KP2	KH2	KZ2

GE General, KS Soldier, KZ Rook, KH Horse, KP Elephant, KA Adviser, KX Cannon.

Shanghai hand decorated chess set. During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, countless chess sets were produced in and around the Shanghai area for Western collectors. Many of the pieces were delicately carved from precious materials such as ivory, jade and coral. This set is our interpretation of the Emperor’s Court in Shanghai and is based on traditional Chinese carvings. This richly hand painted chess set, with its ornate use of gold, is still a favourite with collectors worldwide. The classic design lends itself to the extensive treatment offered by our skillful artists and our limited production of this model ensures a constant and healthy demand. Printed Parchment Story Sheets are supplied with each of these sets which give the history of the set and details of their characters. Packaged in a fitted presentation box. Crafted and imported from England.

1 The Chinese board and MPs/mps

China has its own form of chess, Chinese chess, which is slightly different to western chess. On a ‘traditional Chinese chess board’ the MPs/mps are placed on the intersections of the ‘lines’ instead of in the squares/cells. The board in the Chesmayne format is one of 9 x 10 cells. There are 90 cells in total upon which the MPs/mps can be placed. Each side has nine cells, which are known as the Fortress or Palace, upon which the General (GE) and two Advisers (ADs) are inserted. It is sometimes called ‘Ladies Chess’ due to its lightness and brilliancy. It is estimated that 400+ million people play Chinese chess and makes it the world’s most popular board game! Recently an archaeological dig in Zhenjiang has found a Song dynasty glaze chess piece. The Song dynasty pieces are the earliest examples yet found.

10
09
08
07
06
05
04
03
02
01
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I

Siang K’i: Chinese Chess

Siang K’i adds a number of interesting features to the game, including fortresses, a moat, and cannons. As usual, a legendary antiquity is claimed for the game; however, its earliest mention is found in the Book of Marvels, attributed to Nui Seng-ju, who died in AD 847. The game is popular in China, and especially in Hong Kong.

The game board is split into two territories, each measuring 5 by 9 grid lines, separated by a ‘moat’. The pieces are not played within the squares, but at the intersections of the grid lines. Each player has a ‘fortress’ composed of 4 squares marked with diagonal slashes at each end of the board. The playing pieces are discs with their ranks written on their upper faces in ideograms. One side is marked in red, the other in green or black. Some of the characters for pieces having the same powers differ from one side to the other. The moves of the pieces are…

Symbol	Name	# of Pieces	Move
G	General	1	one point/cell orthagonally; may not leave the fortress
M	Mandarin	2	one point/cell diagonally; may not leave the fortress
E	Elephant	2	two points/cells diagonally; may not leap intervening pieces; may not cross the moat
H	Horsemen	2	one point/cell orthagonally followed by one point/cell diagonally; may not leap intervening pieces
Ch	Chariot	2	rook's move in modern chess
C	Cannon	2	like the Chariot, but only captures if it jumps an intervening piece (called the ‘screen’) from either side; may only jump a piece when making a capture, and may not jump more than one piece in a turn.
P	Pawn	5	one point/cell forward on its own side of the board; in enemy territory it may move sideways and forward; there is no promotion - a pawn on the last rank may only move sideways

The object is to checkmate the general, and all of the usual rules of western chess apply. There are some variations worth mentioning regarding checks. When generals face each other along an unobstructed file, one of the generals is in check. Since a general may not move into check, this only occurs when the two generals are on the same file, and a player moves the sole intervening piece. The player moving the piece that exposes the generals on the file gives the check. As the horseman cannot jump an intervening piece, a check given by the horseman can be blocked by interposing a piece on the angle of the horseman’s move. Finally, a cannon attacks the general in the same way as it attacks any other piece - by ‘shooting’ over a ‘screen’. If the screen is removed, or if another piece is interposed, the check is relieved. If the check cannot be relieved, the general is lost and the game is over.

China
Information on China, including maps, flags, crafts, the Great Wall, Chinese New Year, etc.

China: Zoom School
Use a pictorial interface to get information on China, including maps, flags, printouts, and a quiz.

Do you need a program to play Chinese chess with your computer? Try the following java Chinese chess game: ‘Coffee Chinese Chess’. ‘Coffee Chinese Chess’ is a Java applet - written in the Java programming language - a real game program for playing [you can play against a computer or human] or practice opening books and endgames. It also includes a game viewer for studying/reviewing any previous games and a board picture viewer of Chinese Chess. It also provides many functions as a normal program. Additionally, you could customize its appearances and abilities into a totally new one for your home pages.

Download the program at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Grid/6544/cccintro.htm

The modern game evolved during the 12^th century. In China it is called ‘Xiangqi.’ The Rook (RO) is the only MP familiar to western players. The Chinese Chess Institute of California has a database of 50,000+ games. There are a World and an Asian Xiangqi Federation. Hu Ronghua (Shanghai) is regarded as the best player of all time. Xie Jun became under ten champion of Beijing. Paper, plastic and wooden Chinese chess sets are readily obtainable. Chinese chess uses seven types of MP/mp (traditional chess uses only six). It is only in the last 20 years that Xiangqu has been organized properly in the People’s Republic of China and until quite recently the game had been given little coverage in the English speaking world. Computers and software are now readily available for those who want to play this game. Chinese chess has an extensive literature. The 16 MPs/mps used in Xiangqu are as follows:

above: close-up, Chinese Coins and Chinese flag

01 1 General GE Governor

02 2 Advisers AD Counsellor/Mandarin

03 2 Rook RO Chariot

04 2 Cannons CN Catapult/Ballista

05 2 Knights KN Horse

06 2 Ministers MR Elephant

07 5 Foot Soldiers FS

16 MPs/mps per player in Chinese chess.

Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

Note: there are ‘seven’ types of MP/mp used in Chinese chess.

Above: girl in Han Dynasty costume at a Hong Kong historic park

2 The Chinese chess board

There are a total of 90 squares/points/cells on a Chinese chessboard. The files are numbered 1 to 10 in the diagram below. The ranks are lettered A to J. The letter ‘I’ is not used in the notation so as not to confuse it with the number ‘1’. The MPs/mps are triangular shaped. Large triangles are used for the MPs and small triangles are used for the mps. Each triangle has the monogram of the MP/mp printed on it ie, Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

FS1 FS2 FS3 FS4 and FS5 for the mps

RO1 RO2

CN1 CN2

MR1 MR2

KN1 KN2

AD1 AD2 and

GE for the MPs on a Chinese chessboard

Chinese Bills On Map Of China

How to place the MPs/mps on the Chinese board. Initial Starting Positions (ISP).

The XY notation is shown in the diagram below (algebraic).

Girl in Han Dynasty costume at a Hong Kong historic park

Centric (Centered Notation) 9 x 10 board. Cell A01 is at the center of this notation.

F28	F27	F26	F25	F24	F23	F22	F21	F20	10
E25	E24	E23	E22	E21	E20	E19	E18	E17	09
E26	D19	D18	D17	D16	D15	D14	D13	E16	08
E27	D20	C13	C12	C11	C10	C09	D12	E15	07
E28	D21	C14	B07	B06	B05	C08	D11	E14	06
E29	D22	C15	B08	A01	B04	C07	D10	E13	05
E30	D23	C16	B01	B02	B03	C06	D09	E12	04
E31	D24	C01	C02	C03	C04	C05	D08	E11	03
E32	D01	D02	D03	D04	D05	D06	D07	E10	02
E01	E02	E03	E04	E05	E06	E07	E08	E09	01
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	J

Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

Chinese Bill On Map

4 Blocks of cells used on the Chinese chessboard

01 B$A A01 to A04 - middle of the board

02 B$B B01 to B12

03 B$C C01 to C20

04 B$D D01 to D28

05 B$E E01 to E36 Bordure (10 x 10) edge of the board

Print 9 x 10 board

Chinese coins and bills

5 Chesmayne notation for the Chinese chess board

The Chinese chessboard is based on part of the 10 x 10 board (being 9 x 10 cells in size). In the diagram below rank-1 to rank-10 and F$A to F$J are used. F$K is indicated by :XR [red cells] in the printed version of the Chinese chess board. :XR = Red cells (fully blocked). Please see diagram below. The XY notation is shown on the outer edge of this diagram (rank-1 to 10 and file-A to J). The Acentric notation is also shown in the diagram below. Notice that board is composed of five blocks (Block-A, B, C, D and E). Block-A ie, A01, A02, A03 and A04 is located at the middle or center of the board). The ‘River’ has been omitted to make it easier for western players to play the game. Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set Please go to the ‘Forum’ to print chess set & board?

10	E28	E27	E26	E25	E24	E23	E22	E21	E20	E19
09	E29	D22	D21	D20	D19	D18	D17	D16	D15	E18
08	E30	D23	C16	C15	C14	C13	C12	C11	D14	E17
07	E31	D24	C17	B10	B09	B08	B07	C10	D13	E16
06	E32	D25	C18	B11	A04	A03	B06	C09	D12	E15
05	E33	D26	C19	B12	A01	A02	B05	C08	D11	E14
04	E34	D27	C20	B01	B02	B03	B04	C07	D10	E13
03	E35	D28	C01	C02	C03	C04	C05	C06	D09	E12
02	E36	D01	D02	D03	D04	D05	D06	D07	D08	E11
01	E01	E02	E03	E04	E05	E06	E07	E08	E09	E10
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	J	K

--------A---B---C---D---E---F---G---H---J-----K--

R$10 | E28 E27 E26 E25 E24 E23 E22 E21 E20 | E19 |

R$09 | E29 D22 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 | E18 |

R$08 | E30 D23 C16 C15 C14 C13 C12 C11 D14 | E17 |

R$07 | E31 D24 C17 B10 B09 B08 B07 C10 D13 | E16 |

R$06 | E32 D25 C18 B11 A04 A03 B06 C09 D12 | E15 | river

R$05 | E33 D26 C19 B12 A01 A02 B05 C08 D11 | E14 |

R$04 | E34 D27 C20 B01 B02 B03 B04 C07 D10 | E13 |

R$03 | E35 D28 C01 C02 C03 C04 C05 C06 D09 | E12 |

R$02 | E36 D01 D02 D03 D04 D05 D06 D07 D08 | E11 |

R$01 | E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 E07 E08 E09 | E10 |

--------A---B---C---D---E---F---G---H---J-----K--

Chinese Bills

6 Chinese chess

The two Ministers are prohibited from crossing the ‘river’ in the middle of the board. They are therefore confined to their own half of this particular board. The GE and ADs must remain within the 9 cells of the Palace. All the other MPs/mps may move anywhere on this board. The game of Chinese chess is also known as ‘Elephant Chess’ in China. There is evidence that it was imported from India during the 2^nd century AD. Two extra MPs called Cannon were added to the game in the latter half of the first millennium. By the 11^th century the game became fixed into the form in which it is played today. Chinese chess is very popular in Chinese communities around the globe. Print chess set

Ceiling Detail, Buket Batok Chinese Temple

7 Chinese chess MPs/mps - circular disks

Traditional Chinese MPs/mps are circular discs with their rank written on the upper face, in red for one side and in green for the other. The CN (Cannon) is a unique MP found in Chinese chess. They move on the ranks and files just like the RO, but when capturing, must jump over some other MP/mp on the way to the square/cell being attacked. The intervening MP/mp is known as a ‘screen’ (:sc) and can belong to :A or :B. The basic underlying principles of Chinese chess are similar to western chess. Its distinctive feature is that it is an extremely open game, because the Foot-Soldiers are separated from each other in the Initial Starting Position (ISP). This set-up allows immediate and rapid advance of the FSs down the board, in the most dramatic fashion. Western opening play is avoided as the game immediately goes straight into the middle game. Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

Left: Temple Entrance On Chinese New Year, Siong Lim Temple

Right: Detail Of Altar, Siong Lim Temple Complex

The traditional set of Chinese MPs/mps are round discs like draughts onto which are painted or embossed the symbol of the MP/mp designated. Each player makes one move at a time and the red side (:A) usually has the first play. The touch rule of western chess is a standard law of the game. +CH has also to be verbally announced. ++CM occurs when the opposing GE cannot escape +CH, but stalemate can also occur. The FS is valued at 1 point but when crossing the river is valued at 2 points. The MR (Minister) and the AD (Adviser) are worth 2 points each. The KN (Chinese knight) is valued at 4 points and the CN (Cannon) has a value of 4.5 points. The ROs (Rooks) are the highest valued MPs being worth 9 points each. These values are approximate as is the case in occidental chess. Heuristic principles are also employed in Chinese chess for guiding you to victory in your campaigns. QU1 is not available in traditional Chinese Chess - although this piece could be used by the Chesmayne player if required!

Left: Paper Dragon For Dragon Dance. Right: Joss Sticks And Flame

8 The Chinese Chess board (Oriental view)

A Chinese chessboard has 9 vertical files and 10 horizontal ranks. The two outer vertical lines run unbroken from top to bottom of the board in the oriental view. In the middle of the board there is a ‘river’ separating the ‘Northern Territory’ from the ‘Southern Territory’. The vertical ‘lines’ are numbered 1 to 9, right to left. Instead of black and white, as in occidental chess, the MPs/mps are usually coloured red (:A) and blue (:B), or sometimes red and green or black. The Fortress or General’s Palace is comprised of nine points/squares/cells. At the beginning of a game each side has sixteen MPs/mps. Note: there are seven types of MP/mp used in Chinese chess. Western chess uses only 6 types of MP/mp. The home positions for the MPs/mps are shown in the diagram above. Notice that the MPs/mps are placed on the lines of a grid (oriental view) and not in the cells as on a traditional western chess. The objective of the contest is the same as occidental chess and that is to ++CM the opposing General (GE).

Left: Stickers For Chinese New Year Greetings.

Right: Paper Mache Fish For Dragon Dance, Chinese New Year

9 How to move the Chinese chess MPs/mps

The style of movement of the MPs/mps is somewhat different to western chess.

01 The GE (General) is only allowed to move and must remain within the palace or Fortress and may move only one cell at a time. The opposing GEs cannot be placed on the same vertical file without an intervening MP/mp being placed between them. Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

02 The RO (Rook) has the same type of move as in occidental chess.

03 The CN (Cannon) moves in the exact same manner as the RO but can only capture an opposing MP/mp if there is a MP/mp between this MP and the MP/mp to be captured which the CN jumps over. See ‘VC’ (jumping BS).

04 The KN (Chinese knight) is the same as the occidental counterpart (moving in a 2 x 1 fashion) but ‘can be blocked’ from moving by other MPs/mps.

05 The AD (Adviser) moves along the diagonal lines.

06 The MR (Minister) can also be blocked from moving.

Great Wall, Pa-ta-ling Area, Shanxi

07 The FS (Foot-Soldier) is only allowed to move one square/cell at a time. Before crossing the river they are only allowed to move ‘vertically’. After crossing the river the FS is allowed to move ‘horizontal or vertical’ one cell/square at a time. The Chinese FS (Foot-Soldier) is not allowed to move diagonally or retreat. On reaching the top rank (rank-10) the FS is allowed to move horizontally one cell at each move. The FS is not promotable on reaching the top rank.

Chinese Opera

10 :&O - Opening moves

Opening strategies (:&Os) which are called ‘Lead Moves’ are similar to traditional western chess and fall into various categories. The middle game is reached when each contestant has made about 10 moves and at this stage the sacrifice and counter-sacrifice come into their own. The endgame is also similar to occidental chess. Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

11 The Chinese chess board (Chesmayne view)

The Chinese chessboard is composed of 9 x 10 cells. The bottom half of the board is referred to as the ‘Southern Territory’ and the top half as the ‘Northern Territory’. Two notations are used on the Chinese chessboard - see diagram above. At the bottom and top of the board the cells are lettered A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and J. Along the sides of the board the cells are numbered from 1 to 10. The Chesmayne XY notation can be used to define the position of a MP/mp ie, $A03 means that a MP/mp is on the third cell/square of file-A. $A07 means that the MP/mp is on cell/square 7 of file-A. The Chesmayne Notation proper is shown on each individual cell of the board - see diagram above. The largest block of cells on this board is B$E. Each player therefore has 45 cells in their half of the board. The Palace is indicated by a group of nine cells on each half of the board. Print 9 x 10 board

12 The Chinese chess MPs/mps

Each side has a total of 16 MPs/mps making a total of 32 pieces in the Chinese set. These are……. Print chess set

1 General GE Invaluable (equivalent to the KI)

2 Advisers AD Worth 2 points AD1 and AD2

2 Ministers MR Worth 2 points MR1 and MR2

2 Knights KN Worth 4 points KN1 and KN2

2 Rooks RO Worth 9 points RO1 and RO2

2 Cannons CN Worth 4.5 points CN1 and CN2

5 Foot Soldiers FS Worth 1 or 2 points FS1, FS2, FS3, FS4 and FS5

For exchanges these values are given as…….

GE = Not valued

RO = 12

CN = 6

KN = 5

MR = 3

AD = 2

FS = 1 (2+ on the other side of river)

Please refer to the diagrams above to see the initial set-up (ISP) of the chess MPs/mps on the Chinese board. It will be noticed that there are no long range diagonal moving MPs (BSs, QU) in Chinese chess (although in Chesmayne they may be used quite easily if you decide to do so).

13 The General (GE)

The GE is equivalent to the western occidental KI. If the GE is checkmated the game is lost. When the GE is attacked you must move him out of the line of fire at the next move, or place a MP/mp to block the attacker. The GE must remain inside his palace and is allowed to move horizontal or vertical one cell at a time but not diagonally. He can therefore move to nine different cells on the board (within his Palace). If an opponent’s MP/mp is placed in a cell to which the GE can move, then he can capture the offending combatant. His move is described as ‘orthogonal’. Because the GEs are restricted to the ‘center three files’ of the board the focus of attacks and control of the central file (file-5) becomes all-important during the game. In the middle of his 9 cell/square Palace he can move to 4 cells. Print chess set

There is an unusual rule respecting the GEs: the two GEs cannot be placed on the same vertical file of cells without another MP/mp being placed between them. The GE weakens his own power by using MPs/mps for his protection. In the latter stages of a game when the other MPs/mps have been traded off the GE plays a decisive role in setting up a winning strategy.

14 The Rook (RO1 and RO2)

The RO moves in the same manner as his western occidental counterpart. They may travel horizontal or vertical, but not diagonally, to any cell on the board and may cross the river as long as there is no other MP/mp in the way. They are able to capture any MP/mp of the adversary in their path. At the start of a contest the ROs have a point value of no less than a CN (Cannon) and a KN (Knight) combined (8.5 points) and this decreases only slightly during the middle part of the game. In the endgame a RO cannot normally penetrate your opponent’s defenses unaided. With the aid of other MPs/mps the power of the RO can be multiplied ie, a RO cannot destroy a defense set up by two ADs (Adviser’s) and two MRs (Minister’s). However, a KN and CN together (without the aid of a RO) can win in such a scenario. Print chess set

15 The Cannon (CN1 and CN2)

The CN is similar to the RO but has a unique method of capture. A CN moves in exactly the same fashion as the traditional western RO - vertical or horizontal and may cross the river. The CN may capture an opponent’s MP/mp ‘only’ if there is another MP/mp belonging to either player between this MP and the MP/mp to be captured. To put it another way: the CN jumps over one MP/mp to capture an opposing MP/mp in the manner of a cannon-ball being fired. If you do not intend to capture an opposing MP/mp, you cannot make this jumping move with a CN. The CN can destroy a defense from a distance. It is not a good policy to exchange a CN for a KN in the opening or middle part of the game. They are less useful than a KN in the endgame. Due to fewer MPs/mps being on the board in the latter part of the game the CNs capturing power is diminished, whereas the KN will have less chance of being blocked. There is no strict rule as to whether a CN or KN is more valuable - it usually depends on the actual position at hand. The CN can +CH in the same fashion by which it captures! In the opening CN1 and CN2 find it quite easy to find suitable targets in the opposing camp. Print chess set

16 The Knight (KN1 and KN2)

The Knight (KN) of Chinese chess moves in a 2 x 1 or 1 x 2 manner. Note that the letters KN are used to distinguish this MP from the monogram that is used for the occidental knight (KT). The KN may cross the river in the middle of the board. However, the KNs can be blocked in their movement. The KN can be totally blocked if there are MPs/mps surrounding its position. At the beginning of a contest the KNs are used for protecting the FSs and during the middle game are useful in spearheading the attack. A KN moves one cell orthogonally (which must be unoccupied), then one cell diagonally in the same direction. In the opening the KNs are restricted in their movements. The KNs are often attacked by CNs but the players rarely exchange these MPs. In the endgame the KNs have more freedom and the CNs few targets to attack.

17 The Adviser (AD1 and AD2)

The ADs move and must remain within the Palace. They move one cell at a time diagonally. The two ADs are placed left and right of the GE at the start of the game (ISP). Therefore, the ADs may move to five different cells within the Palace. The sole function of the ADs is to protect the GE and losing an AD can put your GE in danger. They act as the GEs inner protective layer. Losing one AD makes the GE vulnerable to attack by RO1 and RO2. The ADs and MRs are used as defensive MPs and together can only command a total of 45 cells on one side of the board. Print chess set

18 The Minister (MR1 and MR2)

The MR is not allowed to cross the river [or line] in the middle of the board. The two MRs (MR1 and MR2) are placed left and right of the ADs at the start of a contest (ISP) and must move two cells diagonally when required to do so. They move two cells/squares diagonally in any direction (forward or back) but, only if the intervening cell is vacant (unoccupied). MR1 and MR2 can defend each other. They are restricted to moving to seven cells in actual play! If there is a MP/mp one diagonal cell from the Minister, the MR is not allowed to move beyond this MP/mp. They act as the GEs outer protective layer. Losing one of your MRs makes the GE vulnerable to attack by a CN. Print chess set

19 The Foot-Soldier FS1, FS2, FS3, FS4, FS5

01 The FS moves one cell/square at a time vertically (before crossing the river) and is not allowed to move horizontally.

02 On reaching the far side of the river they may move one cell/square vertically or horizontally.

03 They are not permitted to move diagonally or retreat.

04 On reaching rank-10 the FS is only allowed to move one cell/square horizontal left or right.

05 The FS is not promotable and may capture any MP/mp of your adversary occupying the cell/square to which they may move.

06 At the start of a contest the FSs are used to block the enemy from advancing and have various functions according to their cellular position on the board.

07 These mps (FSs) are not connected in the ISP. Due to this fact the files become quite important during the game.

08 The FSs are not considered important until they cross into the opponents half of the board. On crossing the river the FSs power is multiplied. FS1 and FS2 inch their way towards the center of the board after crossing the river. The central FSs (FS3 and FS4) are used as ‘screens’ by CN1 and CN2 and are considered more valuable than those on the wings (FS1 and FS5). They are worth 1 point before crossing the river and 2+ points after crossing the river in the middle of the board. Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

How to move the Foot Soldier

01 Before crossing the River: one cell vertically forward.

02 After crossing the River- one cell vertical or horizontal.

03 The FS is not promotable.

04 On reaching the top rank (rank-10) a FS can only move horizontally one cell at a time.

FS3 is an important defender of the central area. FS2 and FS4 help to obstruct attacks. Attacks from the left and right side of the board are blocked by FS1 and FS5. The FSs are used by the CNs to exert pressure on your opponent’s side of the board. During the endgame phase one extra FS can lead to a win. The cell position of a FS in the endgame (if the FS has gone beyond a certain rank or behind the GEs position), often determines the result of a contest. On the other hand a FS advancing too far, too early can diminish your chances of gaining a win.

20 Rules of Chinese chess

01 Each player makes one move at a time.

02 Each move should be made within a specified time.

03 If you touch a MP/mp - you must move the piece.

04 If you put your opponent’s GE in +CH (if the opponent’s GE can be captured on the next move) he must be moved. You should call +CH. You may not +CH more than three times in a row with the same MP, without either side moving any other MPs/mps.

05 If your opponent cannot move the General out of +CH and cannot block the +CH with another MP/mp, you win the game (++CM).

06 If a player cannot make a legal move with any remaining MP/mp, the player is stalemated. In Chinese chess, a ++ST is considered a loss and not a draw ending as in traditional western chess.

07 When neither GE can be ++CM the game is considered draw.

08 The opening and the remainder of a game is dominated by the ROs, CNs and KNs. RO1 and RO2 are the strongest MPs. KT1, KT2 and CN1, CN2 are considered of equal strength.

09 Before going on the attack you should complete the development of your MPs/mps.

21 Opening moves

The opening you select will influence the middle game and endgame. Below are given a selection of opening scenarios that you may play - try these for yourself? Note that these openings can be started on the left or right side of the board. The canonical names of some of these openings are…….

Chinese Chess :&Os

:&O-1 Central CN

:&O-2 River Guarding RO

:&O-3 River Guarding CN

:&O-4 File-C FS Advance

:&O-5 Three Step Tiger

:&O-6 Predicting Prophet

:&O-7 Cross Palace CN

:&O-8 Central Double CN

An opening is just a predetermined set of moves that have been found to work well in actual play. It is advised to set-up the Chinese chess board and play through the moves given in the examples listed below. In this way you will obtain a better understanding of how the MPs/mps move on the board. The shortest game of Xiangqu is achieved in three moves…….

01A CN2-H03/G03 ..FS2 [FS2 is attacked]

01B AD2-D10/E09

02A CN2-G03*G07-FS2 [FS2 is captured]

02B CN1-H08/G08 ..FS4 [FS4 is attacked]

03A CN2-G07*G10-MR1++CM ..RO1 [++CM, MR1 captured, RO1 attacked]

03B ++LS [:B loses this game]

It’s as simple as that! Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

22 Middle game play (:MG)

The middle game commences when about a dozen moves have been made by each player. There is no formula for playing the middle game. Some of the general principles are given below. Middle game strategies fall into two types - sacrifice and counter-sacrifice.

01 Try to build up a solid defense before attacking or capturing your opponent’s MPs/mps.

02 Do not be hasty in capturing ‘dead men’ (a MP/mp which can not be defended easily and that can be captured in the next few plays).

03 Make sure you have reinforcement when attacking your opponent.

04 To capture an opposing MR or AD will undermine your opponent’s defense.

05 Use RO1 and RO2 to block your opponent’s KNs from crossing the river. Capture KNs with the aid of KNs and CNs. Restrict the movement of RO1 and RO2 by blocking them with a protected CN or KN. If your adversary’s CN is protecting other MPs/mps, then try to capture the CN in an exchange or force the CN to move to a different cell/square on the board. Use two of your MPs/mps to attack the central file, left or right, whichever file is the weakest. Attack weakly protected MPs/mps and exchange the significant MPs/mps. If your opponent has concentrated MPs/mps on one side of the board, then place your MPs/mps for protection on that side of the board. If you find that you are under attack, then it will be to your advantage to attack a MP/mp of your opponent rather than to try to run or protect your own MP/mp.

06 Be watchful for any opportunity that will lead to overall control of the board (having the advantage). MPs ‘Chained together’ means that two MPs are only one move away from each other’s capturing position (protected). Print 9 x 10 board Print chess set

23 End game play, :EG

Is that part of the game in which the players have only a few MPs/mps remaining on the board. In the game of traditional chess a PA is usually promoted at the end of a game and the player who does so goes on to win the game. In Xiangqu the mps are not promotable, therefore, the MPs/mps on the board are slowly wittled away. The weaker side can win in Chinese chess due to three reasons…….

The GE and ADs are restricted to the 9 cells of the Palace.

The opposing GE is used to block two of the three files (Palace files).

Stalemate is considered a win for the player bringing it about.

Would you like to play Chinese Chess now? Just click on the links below?

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Chinese Chess Homepage from TXA

Welcome to the Xiangqi Homepage, the Web’s original source of information on Chinese chess. If you are a new visitor, click here.

If you are an experienced player, you are probably in the right place. Here you’ll find an online database with more than 2,000 master games, as well as a selection of free and reliable software.

If you are new to the game, check us out! We also recommend the Mind Sport Olympiad's links page as the best source of Internet options.

At this time of year, we look forward. The Toronto Championship will take place in April, and the Canadian championship in July. The Forshang Cup will take place in Las Vegas in August, followed by final matches in Switzerland. In the Fall, a selection of China's greatest players will visit clubs in the west.

This homepage is provided by Peter Sung, VP of the TXA. You should also visit our club homepage, prepared by TXA president, Elton Yuen. And we invite you to read the stories that TXA member, Bill Brydon’s, is writing for the Mindzine . These feature analysis by Huang Yuying, Lin Ye, Peter Sung, Nguyen Phuc, and others.

If you have any questions, send us email.

News	News Group	On line play	Photo Album	Software	Pratical End Game Ö	Puzzle	Data Base
Profile of Master ¦	Clubs	Fans	Rules	Books & Equipment ß		Other Link

Mar 11,2000 ... Update News Section
Mar 7,2000 ... Update News Section
Feb 9,2000 ... Add 230 Games into <Master DataBase,
Jan 19,2000 ... Update News Section
Jan 17,2000 ... Update News Section
Jan 15,2000... Update Data Base
Jan 11,2000 ... Update News Section
Dec 27,1999 ... Update News Section
Dec27,1999 ... Link to LU Qin vs. the World Game 3 from MSO
Dec 25,1999 ... Update News Section
Dec 24,1999 ... Update News Section
Dec 19,1999 ... Update News Section
Dec 9,1999 ... Update Data Base
Nov 30,1999 ... Update News Section
Nov 29,1999 ... Update Profile of Master Page.
Nov 23,1999 ... Add 32 games from 1999 Red Bull Cup TV fast game Champion
Nov 23,1999 ... Update LinksLU

Qin vs World 2nd game

This document was prepared by Peter Sung Vice President of TXA
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Xiangqi - Chinese Chess

Xiangqi means “elephant game” in Chinese. Xiangqi is the most popular board game in the world, with hundreds of millions of players! Xiangqi is recorded to have been played from at least the first century AD, and it is a close relative of the “International Chess” game which originated in India and popular in Europe, America and elsewhere. Asserting the exact history of Xiangqi and chess is difficult, as there exist some disagreements among the few historical texts and scholars. Xiangqi is most popular in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia, but it is played in many other countries as well, with noted increasing popularity now in Europe and America.

In 1632 Jin-zhen Zhu wrote one of the most important books on the game: ‘The Secret Inside the Orange’, which records many of the most important games to learn by serious students of the game. The book’s title is based on the following legend:

There was once an orange field in which an enormous orange was grown. When the orange was peeled, it was found that inside two old men were sitting facing each other, playing chess.

This account, and the complete games, are given in H.T.Lau’s “Chinese Chess” book. You can purchase this book and other Xiangqi items at our secure storefront.

Xiangqi is pronounced something like “Shiang Chi” and is commonly romanized today as Xiangqi or Xiang Qi, in the pinyin system. For a Chinese language lesson, see our tutorial.

Xiangqi is the most played game in the world. Unsurprisingly, the Chinese are the best players in the world. Other Asian countries, like Vietnam, are progressing very fast. The best player of China (and of the world) is given the name of “Wang Qi” or “King of Chess”.

Except when indicated, the champions are from Chinese origin. We follow here the Chinese habit of placing the family name first.

For a westerner not able to read Chinese, it is very difficult to find information about the competitions of Xiangqi. If you notice an error or have data missing here, you will be very kind to mail me. Thanks to Bill Brydon at MSO from whom I get a lot of information summarized here.