Chinese Chess, a traditional intellectual game, not only brings entertainment but also helps improve thinking and memory. With the development of the Ko99 platform, playing Chinese Chess has become easier than ever.
Introduction to Chinese Chess
Chinese Chess is a traditional intellectual game originating from China, played on a board of 9 rows and 10 columns. Each player will control 16 pieces, including Generals, Mandarins, Elephants, Chariots, Horses, Cannons and Pawns.
The goal is to destroy the General. The game not only requires players to have the ability to think tactically but also to have good concentration and memory.
Instructions on how to play Chinese chess
To be able to play effectively, you need to understand the basic rules and how each piece moves.
How to arrange the board
Before starting the game, arranging the board correctly is very important. The board consists of 90 squares divided into 9 rows and 10 columns. Each player will place his pieces in the specified positions, with the flags clearly divided.
- Board: The board is divided into two separate parts by a horizontal line, called the “river”. The pieces of each side will be placed in these two parts of the board.
- Arms: The flags will be arranged in the following order:
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- First row: From left to right, place the Rooks, Cannons, Horses, Mandarins, Generals, Mandarins, Horses, Cannons, and Rooks.
- Second row: Place the Pawns.
- Seventh and eighth rows: The opponent’s pieces will be arranged similarly.
Piece types and how to move
Understanding how each piece moves will help you strategize more effectively.
- General: Moves one square horizontally or vertically, but only within his “palace” area (3×3 squares).
- Staff: Moves one square diagonally within his “palace” area.
- Bishop: Moves two squares diagonally, but cannot cross the river.
- Rook: Moves freely horizontally or vertically.
- Knight: Moves in an L-shape, that is, two squares in one direction, one square in the other direction.
- Cannon: Moves like a Rook but has the ability to “shoot” through a piece to attack the opposite side.
- Pawn: Moves one square forward, but when crossing the river, can move horizontally.
Rules
To understand how to play Chinese chess correctly, you need to understand the basic rules of the game:
- Movement: Pieces must move according to the rules of each type of piece.
- Capture: When a piece moves to an opponent’s square, the opponent’s piece is captured and removed from the board.
- Prohibited moves: Some pieces cannot move through blocked squares or across the river (such as Bishops).
- Prohibited check: When one side’s king is put in “check” by the opponent (with the possibility of being captured on the next move), the side being checked must make a move to defend itself.
End of the game
The game ends when:
- Checkmate: One side is in check, with no way to escape the situation of being captured.
- Draw: Both sides cannot create a victory, with no more pieces to continue the game.
- Abandon: One of the two sides voluntarily abandons the game.
Calculating wins and losses
In Chinese chess, determining wins and losses is based on the basic rules of the game. The score is not the main factor; instead, the outcome of the game is decided by destroying the opponent’s General. Here is how to calculate wins and losses:
- Checkmate: When one side’s General is in check (possibly captured in the next move), with no way to defend, the game ends immediately with a victory for the side checking the General. This is the main and most common way to end.
- No Move: In the case where one side has no more pieces to move legally or cannot avoid being in check, the game also ends with a victory for the attacking side.
- Draw: If neither side can take the next steps to win, there are no more attacking flags, or both sides agree to a draw, the game will end in a draw. A draw can also occur when one side has only a few pieces left that are not strong enough to fight.
- Abandon: One side can abandon the game at any time, the other side will be declared the winner.
In the game, there is no point system like in other games; victory or defeat depends entirely on destroying the opponent’s General or achieving a draw.
Chess tips
To improve your chess playing, apply some of the following tips:
- Plan ahead: Before moving your pieces, think about the opponent’s next steps, plan to deal with them.
- Focus on defense: Protecting your General is the top priority. Don’t let your General be easily attacked.
- Take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses: Observe your opponent’s movements and take advantage of their defensive weaknesses to attack.
- Practice regularly: Play many chess games to improve your skills and get familiar with different tactical situations.
Conclusion
Playing chess is not only a fun and entertaining activity but also a great way to train your mind and improve your tactical thinking. With the detailed instructions and tips above, you will be able to improve your skills and enjoy dramatic matches. Start playing on Ko66 and discover new strategies to become a master!