A chess game that combines the theme of the Three Kingdoms, adding various gameplay modes, allows players to conquer all levels, challenge all heroes, and quickly master chess endgames. Xiangqi, a type of chess originating in China, is a popular two-player strategy game with a rich history. Its simple yet engaging pieces have made it a beloved pastime.

Chess Pieces

Xiangqi features 32 chess pieces, split into two teams: red and black. Each team comprises 16 pieces, categorized into seven types:

Red Chess Pieces:

• 1 Handsome
• 2 Rooks
• 2 Horses
• 2 Cannons
• 2 Phases
• 2 Shi
• 5 Soldiers

Black Chess Pieces:

• 1 General
• 2 Rooks
• 2 Horses
• 2 Cannons
• 2 Elephants
• 2 Taxis
• 5 Pawns

Handsome/General

The "Handsome" represents the red team, while the "General" signifies the black team. These leaders are pivotal targets in the game. They can move within the "nine palaces," moving one square at a time either vertically or horizontally. The Handsome and General cannot face each other directly on the same vertical line, or the player who moves will lose.

Shi/Taxis

The red team's "Shi" and the black team's "Taxis" are confined to the nine palaces. They move diagonally, one square at a time.

Phase/Elephant

The red "Phase" and black "Elephant" move diagonally, two squares at a time, known as "elephant flying field." Their movement is restricted to their own side of the "river boundary" and cannot cross the river. If a piece blocks the center of their path, they cannot move, referred to as "plugging the elephant's eye."

Rook (Jū)

The Rook is the most powerful piece, able to move any number of squares along a vertical or horizontal line without obstruction, known as "car straight road." A single Rook can control up to 17 points, earning the nickname "one car and ten children."

Cannon

The Cannon moves like the Rook when not capturing a piece. To capture, it must jump over another piece, known as "shelling the partition" or "over the mountain."

Horse

The Horse moves in an "L" shape, first moving one square horizontally or vertically, then diagonally, known as "horse walking day." It can reach eight points around its position, hence "eight sides of majesty." If blocked, the Horse cannot jump, a situation called "crappy horse legs."

Soldiers/Pawns

The red "Soldiers" and black "Pawns" move forward only, one square at a time. Before crossing the river, they cannot move sideways. After crossing, they gain the ability to move left or right, enhancing their power significantly, leading to the saying "small pawns crossing the river top cart."

Gameplay

Players take turns moving their pieces, embodying the strategic principles from Sun Tzu's "Art of War," such as "surrendering to others without fighting." The goal is to "checkmate" or "trap" the opponent's General (Handsome). The red team moves first, and players alternate until a win, loss, or draw is determined. Engaging in Xiangqi battles enhances players' strategic thinking through the complexities of attack, defense, feints, and overall game dynamics.