A chess game that combines the theme of the Three Kingdoms, integrating various gameplay modes, allows players to conquer all levels, challenge all heroes, and quickly master the chess endgame. Xiangqi, a form of chess originating in China, is a popular two-player confrontation game with a rich history. Its simple yet engaging pieces have made it a widely enjoyed pastime.
Chess Pieces
Xiangqi features thirty-two pieces, divided into two teams: red and black, each with sixteen pieces categorized into seven types. The pieces are as follows:
- Red Chess Pieces: One handsome, two rooks, two horses, two cannons, two advisors, two elephants, and five soldiers.
- Black Chess Pieces: One general, two rooks, two horses, two cannons, two guards, two elephants, and five pawns.
Handsome/General
The red side has the "handsome" while the black side has the "general." Both are the leaders in the game and the primary targets. They can move within the "palace," stepping one square vertically or horizontally at a time. The handsome and general cannot face each other directly along the same vertical line, as this results in an immediate loss for the moving player.
Advisors/Guards
The red side has "advisors" and the black side has "guards." They are confined to the palace and move diagonally one square at a time.
Elephants
The red side calls them "elephants" and the black side "ministers." They move diagonally two squares at a time, a move known as "flying the field." Their movement is restricted to their half of the board and they cannot cross the river. If a piece blocks the middle of their path, they cannot move, a situation called "blocking the elephant's eye."
Rooks/Chariots
Rooks are the most powerful pieces in Xiangqi, capable of moving any number of squares along ranks or files, as long as no piece blocks their path. This is known as "driving straight." A rook can control up to seventeen points, hence the saying, "one rook is worth ten pieces."
Cannons
Cannons move like rooks when not capturing but must jump over exactly one piece to capture another, whether it's an opponent's or their own piece. This move is called "firing over the screen" or "shooting over the mountain."
Horses
Horses move in an "L" shape, one square in one direction and then two squares perpendicularly, known as "the horse's day." They can reach up to eight points around them, leading to the phrase "eight directions of majesty." If a piece blocks their initial move, they cannot jump over it, a situation called "tripping the horse's leg."
Soldiers/Pawns
The red side has "soldiers" and the black side has "pawns." They move forward one square at a time and cannot retreat. Before crossing the river, they can only move forward. After crossing, they gain the ability to move sideways as well, significantly increasing their power, hence the saying "small pawns become mighty after crossing the river."
Players alternate moves, embodying the combat philosophy from Sun Tzu's "Art of War," which emphasizes victory without fighting. The game ends in victory when one player checkmates or traps the opponent's general or handsome. The red side moves first, and the game continues until a win, loss, or draw is determined. Through the complex interplay of attack and defense, reality and deception, and overall and local strategies, players can enhance their cognitive abilities.
