INTRODUCTION
Chinese chess is a great game for those who love strategy and mastering different endgame methods. Although similar to international Chess, there are a different pieces and different rules for moving them. Learn how to play Chinese Chess for a fun and challenging new past time. The measurement is about 24cm, perfect to play on the go as a travel set.
HOW TO PLAY
- The King moves only one space at a time, either horizontally or vertically. Furthermore, the King must always stay within the palace, which is a square marked with an X.
- The Guards (Advisor) move only one space at a time diagonally. Similar to the King, the guards must stay within the palace.
- The Ministers (Elephants) move two spaces at a time diagonally (i.e. 2 spaces left/right and 2 spaces up/down in a move). They must stay within their own side of the river. If there is a piece midway between the original and final intended position of a minister, the minister is blocked and the move is not allowed.
- The Rooks (Cars) move one or more spaces horizontally or vertically provided that all positions between the original and final positions are empty.
- The Knights (Horses) move two spaces horizontally and one space vertically (or respectively 2 spaces vertically and one space horizontally). If there is a piece next to the horse in the horizontal (vertical) direction, the horse is blocked and the move is not allowed.
- The Cannons move one or more spaces horizontally or vertically like a Rook. However, in a capture move, there must be exactly one non-empty space in between the original and final position. In a non-capture move, all spaces in between must be empty.
- The Pawns (or Soldiers) move one space at a time. If a pawn does not cross the river yet, it can only move forward vertically. Once crossing the river, the pawn can also move horizontally.
- Capture: When a piece moves to a position currently held by an opponent's piece, it captures that opponent's piece. The captured piece is removed from the board.
- King's line of sight: The two Kings in the board must never be on the same file (vertical line) without any pieces in between them. A move that puts the two Kings in such a setting is illegal
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King safety: One must never leave the King to be captured by the opponent in the next move. Any moves that put the King in such a setting is illegal.
RECOMMENDED AGES
For children ages 6 and up