Rules of Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) – From Basic to Advanced

1. The Board and Pieces

The Board: Consists of 9 columns and 10 rows, divided by a "river" in the middle. Each side of the board represents two opposing nations (red and black), with each side having 16 pieces.

The Pieces: Each side has 7 types of pieces, with a total of 16 pieces.

General (1 piece): The most important piece; losing the general results in losing the game.

Advisors (2 pieces): Protect the general, can only move diagonally within the palace.

Elephants (2 pieces): Move diagonally by two spaces and cannot cross the river.

Chariots (2 pieces): Move horizontally or vertically without distance limitation.

Cannons (2 pieces): Move like chariots, but when capturing, they must jump over one piece.

Horses (2 pieces): Move in an "L" shape (1 space horizontally and 2 spaces vertically, or vice versa) and are blocked if there is a piece directly in front of them.

Soldiers (5 pieces): Move one space forward at a time, but can move horizontally after crossing the river.

2. Movement and Capturing Rules

General: Moves one space horizontally or vertically within the palace (a 3x3 grid) and cannot leave it. When in check, the player must find a way to move the general or another piece to escape.

Advisors: Move one space diagonally within the palace. Their primary role is to protect the general and they cannot leave the palace.

Elephants: Move two spaces diagonally. They cannot cross the river and are blocked if there is a piece between their path.

Chariots: Move horizontally or vertically any number of spaces. This is the most powerful piece on the board.

Horses: Move in an "L" shape (1 space horizontally and 2 spaces vertically, or vice versa). If a piece is directly in front of the horse in its path, it cannot move.

Cannons: Move like chariots, but when capturing, the cannon must jump over exactly one piece (called the "screen").

Soldiers: Move forward one space at a time. After crossing the river, they can move one space sideways but cannot move backward.

3. Objective of the Game

Checkmate: The primary goal is to checkmate the opponent’s general, meaning that when your piece attacks the opponent’s general and they have no legal moves to escape, you win the game.

Draw: The game can end in a draw if neither player can checkmate the opponent or in certain situations like repeated positions or a mutual agreement to draw.

4. Special Rules

Perpetual Check: A player is not allowed to check the opponent’s general continuously for three or more moves if the opponent can escape. This is known as "perpetual check," and the player may lose if they violate this rule.

Perpetual Chase: Similarly, a player is not allowed to chase a piece repeatedly over several moves, creating a situation where the game cannot progress.

Opposing Generals: If both generals are on the same column without any piece between them, one player must move to break this situation.

5. Advanced Strategies and Skills

Opening (Khai cuộc): In the early game, players often develop chariots and cannons to control the center and prepare for both attack and defense. Common openings include "Central Cannon," "Same-side Cannon," and "Opposite-side Cannon."

Midgame (Trung cuộc): During the midgame, players focus on controlling key positions on the board and coordinating their pieces to apply pressure on the opponent.

Endgame (Tàn cuộc): In the endgame, when most pieces have been captured, players must maximize the value of their remaining pieces, particularly the chariot, cannon, and horse, to push for a checkmate.

Move Calculation: In Xiangqi, anticipating several moves ahead and predicting your opponent’s responses is crucial. Players must always aim to create coordinated attacks while minimizing their own vulnerabilities.

Chinese chess is not only a game for entertainment but also a highly intellectual sport that requires focus, reasoning, and strategic thinking. Over time, players can improve their skills and become more proficient by practicing and studying various tactics and strategies.