Three Kingdoms chess:象棋

Imagine diving into a chess game that merges the epic narrative of the Three Kingdoms with the strategic depth of Xiangqi, a traditional Chinese chess game. This innovative blend not only offers a variety of gameplay modes but also allows players to conquer all levels, challenge iconic heroes from the era, and quickly master the intricacies of chess endgames. Xiangqi, originating in China, is a two-player strategy game with a rich history. Its simple yet engaging pieces have made it a beloved pastime across generations.

Chess Pieces

Xiangqi features 32 pieces, evenly split into two teams: red and black, each with 16 pieces divided into seven types. Here's a breakdown of the pieces:

• Red Chess Pieces: One 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 (shi), two elephants, and five pawns.

Handsome/General

The "handsome" represents the red side, while the "general" (will) is the black side's leader. Both are pivotal, as they are the ultimate targets in the game. Movement is restricted to the "nine palaces," moving only one space vertically or horizontally. Direct confrontation along the same line leads to an immediate loss for the moving player.

Advisors/Taxis

Known as "shi" in red and "taxis" in black, these pieces are confined to the nine palaces and can only move diagonally within this area, one space at a time.

Elephants/Phase

The "phase" (red) and "elephant" (black) move diagonally two spaces at a time, termed "elephant flying field." Their movement is limited to their own side of the "river," and they cannot cross it. If a piece blocks the center of their path, they are immobilized, known as "plugging the elephant's eye."

Rook (Jū)

The rook is the most powerful piece, moving any distance along ranks or files without obstruction, known as "car straight road." It can control up to 17 points, earning the nickname "one car and ten children."

Cannon

The cannon moves like the rook when not capturing, but to capture, it must jump over exactly one piece, whether friend or foe, a maneuver called "shelling the partition" or "over the mountain."

Horse

The horse moves in an "L" shape, first one space sideways or straight, then diagonally, known as "horse walking day." It can reach eight points, hence "eight sides of majesty." A piece blocking its path prevents movement, termed "trapping the horse's leg."

Soldiers/Pawns

The "soldier" (red) and "pawn" (black) can only move forward before crossing the river and cannot retreat. After crossing, they gain lateral movement but are still limited to one space per move. This enhancement leads to the saying "small pawn crossing the river tops the cart."

Players alternate turns, embodying the strategic wisdom from Sun Tzu's Art of War, aiming to "checkmate" or "trap" the opponent's general (handsome). The game begins with the red side's move, and continues until a win, loss, or draw is determined. Through the game's complex dynamics of attack, defense, feints, and overall strategy, players enhance their cognitive abilities, making Xiangqi not just a game, but a mental workout.