Three Kingdoms chess:象棋

A chess game that combines the theme of the Three Kingdoms, adding various modes of gameplay, allows players to conquer all levels, challenge all heroes, and quickly master the intricacies of chess endgames. Xiangqi, a type of chess originating from China, is a two-player strategy game with a rich history. Due to the simplicity and enjoyment of its pieces, it has become a widely popular chess activity.

Chess Pieces

Xiangqi features thirty-two chess pieces, divided into two groups: red and black, with each group comprising sixteen pieces split into seven types. The pieces are as follows:

• Red Chess Pieces: One general (handsome), two rooks, two horses, two cannons, two advisors (shi), two elephants (phase), and five soldiers.
• Black Chess Pieces: One general (will), two rooks, two horses, two cannons, two advisors (taxis), two elephants, and five pawns.

General (Handsome/Will)

The red general is called "handsome," while the black general is referred to as "will." As the leaders on the board, they are the primary targets of the game. They are restricted to moving within the "palace" (nine houses), moving one space at a time horizontally or vertically. The generals cannot face each other directly on the same file, or the player moving into this position loses.

Advisor (Shi/Taxis)

The red advisor is "shi," and the black is "taxis." Their movement is also confined to the palace, and they can only move diagonally one space at a time.

Elephant (Phase/Elephant)

The red elephant is "phase," and the black is "elephant." They move diagonally two spaces at a time, known as "flying the field." Their movement is limited to their half of the board (before the river) and cannot cross the river. If another piece blocks the middle of their path, they cannot move, a situation known as "blocking the elephant's eye."

Rook (Car/Jū)

The rook is the most powerful piece, able to move any number of spaces along ranks and files, as long as there are no pieces in the way, known as "driving straight." A rook can control up to seventeen points, hence the saying, "one rook can handle ten soldiers."

Cannon

The cannon moves like the rook when not capturing, but to capture, it must jump over exactly one piece, friend or foe, known as "firing over the screen" or "crossing the mountain."

Horse

The horse moves in an "L" shape, one space along a rank or file and then one space diagonally, known as "stepping on the day." It can reach up to eight points around it, leading to the phrase "majestic on all sides." If a piece blocks the first step of its move, it cannot proceed, known as "tripping the horse's leg."

Soldier/Pawn

The red soldier and black pawn move forward one space at a time and cannot retreat. Before crossing the river, they cannot move sideways. After crossing the river, they gain the ability to move left or right one space, significantly increasing their power, hence the saying "small pawns become formidable after crossing the river."

Players take turns moving their pieces, following the strategic principles of Sun Tzu's Art of War, such as "winning without fighting" and "subduing the enemy without battle." The objective is to checkmate or trap the opponent's general. The player with the red pieces moves first, and the game continues until a win, loss, or draw is determined. Through the complex interplay of attack and defense, as well as the balance between the whole and the parts, players can enhance their strategic thinking abilities.