Are you game? How to play Chinese chess

Xiangqi (象棋 ‘elephant chess’) or Chinese chess, is simply a kick-ass game.
(Also known as Cờ tướng in Vietnamese.)

History

Xiangqi is commonly referred to as Chinese chess in English, making it appear as though Chess (i.e. European or International chess) itself were the original game.

The earliest form of chess is believed to have originated in Northwest India in the 6th century AD known as Chaturaṅga.

The European version of chess (developed from the 9th-15th centuries) has its origins in this ancient Indian game.^[1]

However, the origin of Xiangqi is still debatable and has been argued to have originated in ancient China in the 1st century AD during the Warring States Period.^[2]

A more likely theory is that Xiangqi evolved from an ancient Chinese game known as Liubo, some 3,500 years ago.^[3] This would thus place Xiangqi chronologically before both Chaturaṅga and European chess.

Chinese and European chess

Both Chinese and European versions are the most popular chess games to date: the former played predominately in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and other Asian countries; and the latter internationally.

They are enjoyed and appreciated by many across the globe for their unique set of rules, board layout, chess pieces and play.

I’ve been a long-time fan of both games and have found that the European version is less restrictive (like battling outside in a free, open field somewhere in Northern Europe).

Whereas Chinese chess has more obstacles and is more challenging (like battling and invading enemy turf by crossing a dividing river and infiltrating the enemy’s city and palace). And I expected no less – Asians are cunning!

A kick-ass game

For those who’ve never had the pleasure of playing Xiangqi, and especially for any Chess* player set on the ‘superiority’ of Chess over all other forms, this article will introduce you to the wonderful game of Xiangqi!

So go on, give it a try (or at least bookmark this article for when you do find the time), and welcome to the world of Chinese chess!

* I will use ‘Chess’ to mean ‘International/European chess’ in this article. Also, comparisons with Chess will be provided to ease in the Chess player.

Board (layout)

9 x 10 grid line board: Pieces are played on points, i.e. intersections of the grid lines, rather than inside squares as in Chess.

The river, 河 hé: The Chinese chessboard is divided by a river (usually labelled with the characters 楚河 chǔ hé, ‘Chu’s river’ and 漢界 hàn jiè ‘Han’s border’, in reference to the Chu-Han war), with each feuding territory on either side. The river restricts certain pieces from mobilising to enemy territory.
(Vietnamese sông/hà – Sở hà Hán giới)

The palaces, 宮 gōng: 3 x 3 grid lines centered at both ends of the board. The general is restricted to and protected in this palace along with his two advisors, away from the main battle rather than directly fighting in the war itself.
(Vietnamese cửu cung)

Pieces

There are a total of 32 Chinese chess pieces, 16 in each army.

Each piece is cylindrical in shape (circumference about the size of an Australian 20c coin, and usually 1cm in height when placed face down).

For each opposing army, the Chinese characters used to mark equivalent Chinese chess pieces differ.

However, there are differences with some sets which mark both coloured pieces from opposing armies with the same Chinese characters.

Opposing armies are traditionally black vs red or blue vs red, depending on the set you have. Whereas Chess colours are traditionally black vs white or red vs white.

(1) Soldier

卒 zú ‘pawn/private’ / 兵 bīng ‘soldier’
(Vietnamese tốt)

• Number (in each army): 5; 8 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: Pawn

• Each move: Vertically (forward) one point; when in enemy territory (across the river) also permitted to move horizontally one point

• Capture and defend: As ‘Each move’; differs from Chess pawn, which captures and defends diagonally

• Restrictions: Cannot move backwards; cannot jump over any obstructing pieces

• Additional: On first move, cannot move two points forward as allowed of Chess pawns; soldiers do not transform or undergo ‘promotion’ or ‘underpromotion’ to another piece once it has reached the end of the opponent’s side of the board, as allowed of Chess pawns

(2) Cannon

砲 pào ‘catapult’ / 炮 pào ‘cannon’
(Vietnamese pháo)

• Number (in each army): 2; 2 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: No equivalent

• Each move: Vertically or horizontally any number of points

• Capture and defend: Vertically or horizontally any number of points by jumping over an obstructing piece that is between it and its intended target

• Restrictions: Cannot jump over any obstructing pieces when just moving and not capturing or defending

(3) Chariot

車 jū ‘chariot/car’ / 俥 jū ‘chariot/car’
(Vietnamese xe)

• Number (in each army): 2; 2 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: Rook/castle

• Each move: Vertically or horizontally any number of points

• Capture and defend: As ‘Each move’

• Restrictions: Cannot jump over any obstructing pieces

• Additional: Considered the strongest piece in Chinese chess; the chariot does not perform any move equivalent to ‘castling’ as allowed in Chess

(4) Horse

馬 mǎ ‘horse’ / 傌 mà ‘horse’
(Vietnamese mã)

• Number (in each army): 2; 2 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: Knight/horse

• Each move: Vertically or horizontally one point and then diagonally one point away from its former position (L-shaped move as in Chess)

• Capture and defend: As ‘Each move’

• Restrictions: Cannot perform a move by jumping over an obstructing piece that is in its path, as allowed of Chess knights – blocking a horse is known as ‘hobbling the horse’s leg‘

(5) Elephant

象 xiàng ‘elephant’ / 相 xiàng ‘minister’
(Vietnamese tượng)

• Number (in each army): 2; 2 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: No equivalent, but similar to the bishop

• Each move: Diagonally two points

• Capture and defend: As ‘Each move’

• Restrictions: Cannot cross the river, and only defends own territory; cannot move if its path is obstructed by another piece – blocking an elephant is known as ‘blocking the elephant’s eye‘

(6) Advisor

士 shì ‘scholar/gentleman/officer’ / 仕 shì ‘scholar/official’
(Vietnamese sĩ)

• Number (in each army): 2; 2 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: No equivalent, but has been likened to the queen

• Each move: Diagonally one point

• Capture and defend: As ‘Each move’

• Restrictions: Cannot move outside the palace, as they remain there to protect the general

(7) General

將 jiàng ‘general’ / 帥 shuài ‘marshal’
(Vietnamese tướng)

• Number (in each army): 1; 1 in Chess

• Equivalent in Chess: King

• Each move: Vertically or horizontally one point

• Capture and defend: As ‘Each move’

• Restrictions: Cannot leave the confines of the palace, as the general must not abandon his territory by fleeing to enemy or other territories

Play

Xiangqi is a two-player game, as are most forms of chess.

But anyone who has ever seen a crowd gathering around a single Xiangqi set will figure that Chinese chess is more likely a community game!

Gameplay

Aim: To defeat the opponent by capturing their general, usually by checkmate.

Start: There are variations according to region as to whether black or red moves first. I have played it with the black army moving first (in Chess, white usually moves first). However, modern formal Xiangqi tournaments rule that the red army is permitted the first move.

Checking: When a general is in direct danger (i.e. going to be captured in the next move by the attacking piece if the general remains in that position, or is not defended by another piece). When a general is checked, 照將 / 將軍 (abb.) 將 jiāng or ‘check’ is usually said aloud to alert the other player (Vietnamese chiếu).

There is no limit to checking. Special rules have been developed to prevent perpetual checking and chasing. See Xiangqi play.

However, for different players and clubs, different sets of rules are employed. Different limits have also been established on what is considered ‘perpetual’ checking.

For e.g. according to Club Xiangqi rules, perpetual checking/chasing is determined when six consecutive checks/chases are performed by a single piece, twelve by two pieces, or eighteen by three pieces.

Tactics: See Xiangqi tactics.

Restrictions: Both generals can never be in direct line of sight of each other. Any move that will result in both generals facing each other unobstructed by another piece, is not permitted. There must always be at least one piece between them.

Game deciders

Checkmate: If the checked general cannot make a move or be defended by its own army to avoid being captured, the situation is called a 將死 jiāng sǐ or ‘checkmate’, and the player who is checkmated loses the game.

Stalemate: When a player can no longer make any legal moves, the player loses the game. Unlike in Chess where a stalemate results in a draw.

Draw by agreement: Both players may decide to end the game with a draw; this may involve drawing due to the impossibility of performing a checkmate.

Resignation: At any time during play, a player may forfeit the game to the other player.

Time control: The player who runs out of their allocated time before the end of the game loses the game (usually time control is seen in tournaments); also can be decided by totalling the score of opponent pieces captured (see Relative value of pieces) in rapid Chinese chess games, usually lasting 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Violation of special rules: A player loses the game when they perform perpetual checking/chasing. See above: Checking.

Variations

There are also variations to the traditional game of Chinese chess, including ‘blind’ chess and Blitz games, a form of rapid chess. See Xiangqi variations and Chinese chess variants.

Where to get Chinese chess

Buy

Xiangqi sets can be found in most Asian grocers, discount stores and general board game stores.

Find a great range of Chinese chess sets online, such as from Yellow Mountain Imports.^

^ We are not affiliated with Yellow Mountain Imports in any way, but do sincerely thank them for allowing us to use images from their website.

Download & play online

You can also play Chinese chess online or download it onto your computer. Xiangqi freeware can be downloaded from various websites, such as the following. But beware, computer opponents are notoriously difficult to beat! (even when set to ‘normal’).

• Play Xiangqi (Mac & Windows; play online)
• Mac Update iXiangqi 1.0.1 (Mac)
• Gizmo’s Freeware (Windows)
• Xiangqi.cc (Windows)
• Xianghong (Windows)
• Chesscape (play online)

iPhone, iTouch, iPad applications

You can also download Chinese chess applications for your iPhone, iTouch or iPad. They usually come at a small price, but some freeware is also available.

• HOXChess by PlayXiangqi (free)
• Xiangqi – Chinese chess by Easy 8 Software ($0.99)
• Chinese chess by ngims ($4.99)

Chinese chess clubs in Sydney

Meet fellow Chinese chess players in Sydney today! Join or visit a Xiangqi club and brush up on your skills, make cool new friends, be part of a great community, and just have lots of fun.

• Chinese Australian Services Society in Croydon, NSW
• Australian Chinese Chess Society in Auburn, NSW
• Australian Chinese Community Association (ACCA) NSW

References

• Wikipedia. Xiangqi [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].
• The University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Learn how to play Chinese chess [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].
• Wikipedia. Chess [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].
• Wikipedia. Timeline of chess [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].
• Chess Variant pages. Xiangqi [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].
• Online Chinese Dictionary. Chess champion terms [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].
• Images for ‘Board (layout)’ and ‘Pieces’ courtesy of Yellow Mountain Imports (some images have been modified) [Retrieved on 1st July, 2010].

[1] Chess Predecessors Wikipedia.com [Retrieved on 30 June, 2010].
[2] Xiangqi History Wikipedia.com [Retrieved on 30 June, 2010].
[3] The History of Xiangqi Yutopian.com [Retrieved on 30 June, 2010].