Application Description

This article introduces Xiangqi (Chinese chess), a two-player strategy board game with a rich history. Let's delve into the rules and gameplay.

The Pieces:

Xiangqi uses 32 pieces, 16 red and 16 black, each with seven distinct piece types:

• Red: 1 General (帥), 2 Advisors (仕), 2 Elephants (相), 2 Horses (馬), 2 Chariots (俥), 2 Cannons (炮), 5 Soldiers (兵)
• Black: 1 General (將), 2 Advisors (士), 2 Elephants (象), 2 Horses (馬), 2 Chariots (車), 2 Cannons (炮), 5 Soldiers (卒)

Piece Movement:

• General (帥/將): Confined to the nine squares in its palace, moving one square horizontally or vertically. Generals cannot occupy the same rank. Direct confrontation results in a checkmate.

• Advisor (仕/士): Moves diagonally one square within the nine palace squares.

• Elephant (相/象): Moves diagonally two squares, but cannot cross the "river" (the central horizontal line) or jump over other pieces.

• Chariot (俥/車): Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically, but cannot jump over pieces.

• Cannon (炮): Moves like the chariot when not capturing. To capture, it must jump over exactly one piece (either friendly or enemy).

• Horse (馬): Moves in an "L" shape: two squares in one direction (horizontally or vertically), then one square perpendicularly. Cannot jump over pieces.

• Soldier (兵/卒): Moves forward one square. After crossing the river, it can also move one square laterally.

Gameplay:

Players take turns moving one piece at a time. The goal is to checkmate the opponent's General by placing it under attack (a "check") from which it cannot escape. The game incorporates elements of strategy, tactics, and foresight, enhancing cognitive abilities through complex interactions of offense and defense. Red moves first. The game concludes when one player checkmates the other's General, or a draw is declared.

Board