Hey guys, it’s me again. Let’s just jump into it. Maybe you’ve heard of these games, Shogi and Go, but I promise you Chinese chess is the greatest out of all (just kidding they’re all good!). I actually have a board so just ask and I’ll be more than willing to play. However, before I start on explaining what it is and how to play, this wouldn’t be my
So many years back when I lived in Queens, a friend of my parents visited and his arrival came bearing a gift. As a kid, a slightly heavy rectangular box always boded well. To my disappointment, it wasn’t a DS game but a brand new box that seemed to contain a game. Well with all the time in the world to spare, I ran into my room and began dissecting its contents. When unfolded it, it looked exactly like the image except without the pieces. I’m not an expert on Chinese characters and I definitely wasn’t back then, so I honestly thought all the pieces looked the same. I would have given up right then and there if by some miracle, a manual slipped out of the box. After an hour of slowly learning the rules and what each piece does, I quickly grabbed my brother and taught him. After several games, we got the hang of it. It’s pretty much like chess (not that we knew how to play chess at that time) except with pieces that do different things and a different number of pieces. Unfortunately, I was decent at the game and my brother, a sore loser, stopped playing because he couldn’t beat me. He preferred Wǔzǐqí (五子棋) or Gomoku over Chinese chess but that’s an article for another day (maybe).
Xiàngqí (象棋) or Chinese chess is a popular game in both China and Vietnam. Like chess, players take turns trying to capture the other player’s king until one player has no more moves to make that can save his general. Unlike chess, there are rules like generals not being able to face each other, a middle river enhancing or restricting the movement of pieces, and different qualities and placements of units. In addition, the general and his two advisors can only move in a three-by-three area. Cannon, elephant, chariot, horse, and soldier are the other pieces you play with. The movements of each unit are very unique.
I’m not going to put all the rules and gimmicks here but I strongly recommend you to search up how to play and try it out
Before I read this article, I did know about Chinese chess and what it was. However I did not know how to play Chinese chess before reading this article. I did know that Chinese chess was popular in china. But I did not know that it was popular in Vietnam. I also did not know the names on the pieces used to play. good job on writing this!
Great article! My grandpa loves to play Chinese chess, and he’s also really good at it. I have tried to learn how to play Chinese chess for years, but I still don’t fully get how to play it. All I know is that your goal is to eat the biggest one, which I think is 将军. It pretty similar to regular chess but instead it has Chinese words on it.