Chinese Chess(象棋 Xiangqi)

The Chinese chess is a traditional game very popular among the Chinese. It is played wherever there are people—factories, schools, villages, streets, you name it. Games of the Chinese chess are often played in parks and by roadsides. A crowd appears whenever such a game is going on.

The Chinese chess is composed of chesses and the chessboard. The chess board features nine vertical lines and then horiznntal lines to form 90 crosses to govern the movement of the chesses. The middle line is known as “ChuRiver and Han Boundary”. The section of the chessboard with oblique lines is known as “Nine Palaces”, which is the domain of the command and “his” guards.

The chesses are mostly made of wood, and they are round in shape. There are 32 chesses, divided into black and red groups of 16 members each. Every group of chesses is composed of one command, two guards, tow prime ministers, two canons, two horses, two chariots and five soldiers.

During the game each side manoeuvres his or her chesses to eliminate the chesses of the other side so as to seize a position in the opposite field. If one chess is in a vulnerable position, it should be withdrawn as soon as possible; if withdrawal is impossible, other chesses may be dispatched to its rescue.

The ultimate ail of a chess game is to hold the command of the opponent. The side which succeeded in a checkmate is the winner.