Xiangqi, widely known as Chinese Chess, has remained a prominent board game for centuries, captivating players across China, Asia, and now the West. This app caters to all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned enthusiasts, offering a valuable platform to enhance your Chinese Chess abilities.

Xiangqi allows you to engage in online multiplayer matches, or face off against a sophisticated AI in a single-player setting. You can participate in online tournaments, ensuring a competitive experience, and leverage Strong Chinese Chess AI analysis to review and improve your game strategically. The app supports multiple languages, including Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, and Vietnamese, making it accessible to a global audience.

Xiangqi: A Comprehensive Guide

Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, is a strategy board game played by two players on a 9x10 checkered board. It is one of the most popular board games in China and is widely played throughout East Asia.

Objective

The objective of Xiangqi is to checkmate the opponent's general, similar to Western chess. Checkmate occurs when the general is under immediate threat of capture (check) and cannot escape.

Board Setup

The Xiangqi board is divided into two halves by a river running horizontally across the center. Each player has 16 pieces, which are arranged on the board as follows:

* General (1): Placed on the central square of the last rank (row)

* Advisors (2): Placed beside the general

* Elephants (2): Placed behind the advisors

* Horses (2): Placed behind the elephants

* Chariots (2): Placed at the corners of the first rank

* Cannons (2): Placed in front of the chariots

* Soldiers (5): Placed on the second rank

Piece Movement

Each type of piece has unique movement rules:

* General: Moves one square horizontally or vertically, but cannot cross the river.

* Advisor: Moves one square diagonally, staying within the palace (the 3x3 square surrounding the general).

* Elephant: Moves two squares diagonally, but must jump over another piece (friend or foe) on the intervening square. It cannot cross the river.

* Horse: Moves like a knight in chess, jumping two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicularly. It can jump over other pieces.

* Chariot: Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically.

* Cannon: Moves like a rook in chess, but must jump over another piece (friend or foe) to capture.

* Soldier: Moves one square forward, or one square sideways when crossing the river.

Gameplay

Players take turns moving one piece at a time. Red moves first, followed by Black. The game continues until one player checkmates the other's general.

Special Rules

* Palace Rule: The general cannot move outside the palace unless the opponent's general is also outside the palace.

* Check and Checkmate: Check occurs when the general is under immediate threat of capture. Checkmate occurs when the general is in check and cannot escape.

* Stalemate: Stalemate occurs when a player has no legal moves but is not in check. The game ends in a draw.

Variations

There are numerous variations of Xiangqi, including:

* Mini Xiangqi: Played on a 5x6 board with simplified rules.

* Blindfold Xiangqi: Played without a physical board, relying on memory and spatial reasoning.

* Internet Xiangqi: Played online against other players.

Conclusion

Xiangqi is a complex and strategic board game that has been enjoyed for centuries. With its unique pieces, movement rules, and special regulations, it offers a challenging and rewarding experience for players of all levels.