Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)
Xiangqi is the Chinese version of chess. It branched from the tree of chess history quite a long time ago, so it's one of the odder variations of chess around. It retains some very old ideas that have been discarded from Western chess a long time ago, and has developed some rather curious Chinese features of its own.
The basic idea is the same: you try to catch your opponent's king. In xiangqi kings are somewhat in trouble to start with: they have to remain in their 3x3 castles and cannot leave them. They have guards in the palace, but those guards often end up being quite some trouble...
The game has some other curious restrictions. There's a river in the middle of the board and the bishops (or the elephants) cannot cross the river. Actually, the bishops can only move in steps of exactly two squares. The knights move like in regular chess, except their orthogonal move isn't a jump, but can be blocked.
The cannon is the most interesting piece in xiangqi. It moves like a rook, but captures in a curious way. Cannon can capture like a rook, over any distance, but it must have a support: to capture something, cannon must jump over another piece that stands between the cannon and the target. Makes for some tricky moves!
If you like Western chess, xiangqi is a strange cousin worth trying. If you don't like Western chess, try xiangqi anyway - you might find you like it better than the Western chess. Xiangqi is a very dynamic game, you need to push on and attack hard. The end games can be a tad stale and drawn out and the game has a strong tendency for draws amongst experienced players, but for beginners, it's exciting and fun.
Xiangqi sets come in many flavours. Most have round wooden pieces, marked with Chinese characters (the characters aren't that hard to learn, by the way). The cheapest sets have really flimsy see-through paper boards - pretty awful, but for the cheap price, it does the job. If you just want to have a copy of xiangqi you can try, that's not a bad option. I have one of those and I don't need to have a better board, since I play the game very rarely.
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World Xiangqi Federation WXF Wrestling T Shirt, medium |  |
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US $9.97 | 51m |
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Chinese Chess Elephant Xiangqi Inlaid Table Top Set | |
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US $54.20 | 1h 52m |
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G2496 Postcard Game Xiangqi General in Palace | |
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US $9.99 | 1d 14h 40m |
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G6909 Postcard Game Xiangqi man making move | |
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US $9.99 | 1d 14h 40m |
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G8272 Postcard Game Xiangqi Capturing a piece | |
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US $9.99 | 1d 14h 40m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, 1.4" honey onyx chess pieces | |
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US $27.95 | 1d 15h 17m |
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Vtg Ceramic Chinese Couple Playing Xiangqi Chess Board Game Figurines Exc Cond | |
2 Bids | US $7.99 | 1d 15h 44m |
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Chinese Chess xiangqi Set Wooden Board Game China wood xiang qi 32 Pcs Chessman | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 2d 3h 45m |
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Chinese Chess Xiangqi Magnetic Travel Set FUN GAME | |
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US $13.98 | 2d 18h 10m |
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Shogi, Chinese chess (onyx xiangqi) super value pack | |
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US $33.99 | 3d 2h |
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Folding Beechwood Veneer Chinese Chess Xiangqi Set | |
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US $26.40 | 3d 2h 33m |
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Chinese Chess xiangqi Set Wooden Board Game China wood xiang qi 32 Pcs Chessman | |
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US $7.95 | 3d 3h 30m |
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HUGE BOARD FOR CHINESE CHESS (XIANGQI) - INLAID WOOD 25" FOR 1¾ ~ 2¼" PIECES | |
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US $103.50 | 3d 13h 28m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, unique handmade chess pieces | |
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US $38.95 | 3d 21h 19m |
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Chinese Chess xiangqi Set Wooden Board Game China wood xiang qi 32 Pcs Chessman | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 4d 3h 45m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, Wooden Chessboard and Pieces | |
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US $18.99 | 4d 11h 12m |
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CHINESE CHESS Xiangqi Traditional Board Game Montessori Kid Children Education | |
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US $5.00 | 5d 9h 3m |
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CHINESE CHESS Xiangqi Traditional Board Game Montessori Children Education | |
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US $5.00 | 5d 9h 18m |
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World Xiangqi Federation WXF Wrestling T Shirt, medium | |
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US $9.96 | 5d 23h 59m |
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Chinese chess, xiangqi, wooden chessboad and pieces | |
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US $19.03 | 6d 23h 3m |
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XIANGQI (CHINESE CHESS) FOLDING, BURNED WOOD, 13.5" BOARD, UREA PIECES | |
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US $31.50 | 7d 12h 28m |
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XIANGQI (CHINESE CHESS) METAL FIGURE 10" BOARD K=1 3/8" | |
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US $67.50 | 7d 12h 30m |
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XIANGQI (CHINESE CHESS) LARGE SOLID UREA PLASTIC PROFESSIONAL QUALITY SET | |
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US $42.30 | 7d 12h 47m |
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Xiangqi Chinese Chess game pieces parts only Gabriel | |
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US $5.99 | 7d 13h 25m |
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Chinese Elephant Xiangqi Chess Magnetic Travel Set | |
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US $14.00 | 8d 13h 58m |
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Got Xiangqi? Sports Mens T-Shirt Black | |
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US $21.99 | 8d 19h 6m |
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Monkey King Chinese Elephant Chess Xiangqi Set | |
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US $55.80 | 8d 21h 53m |
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1500g,Chinese Chess Xiangqi Xiang Qi,pu erh tea cakes | |
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US $63.51 | 9d 7h 43m |
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US $63.51 | 9d 7h 45m |
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Xiangqi Is In My Blood Sports Mens T-Shirt Black | |
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US $21.99 | 11d 11h 12m |
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Chinese Chess Xiang Qi Xiangqi Set w/Leather Case | |
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US $42.20 | 11d 11h 18m |
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Got Xiangqi? Sports Mens Hoodie Black | |
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US $42.99 | 12d 3h 5m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, 12" magnetic foldable board | |
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US $25.95 | 12d 3h 40m |
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I Love Xiangqi Sports Mens T-Shirt White | |
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US $21.99 | 13d 4h 46m |
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Chinese Chess Elephant Xiangqi Mahogany Veneer | |
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US $24.00 | 14d 16h 33m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, Wooden Board, Sandalwood Pieces | |
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US $20.38 | 15d 4h 42m |
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XIANGQI XIANG QI INTERANTIONALIZED ELEPHANT CHESS CLUB WOODEN V NICE LOOK | |
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US $50.00 | 15d 14h 42m |
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COMORES NEW ISSUE CHINESE CHESS XIANGQI S/S FDC | |
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US $25.95 | 18d 14h 47m |
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COMORES NEW ISSUE CHINESE CHESS XIANGQI S/S MINT NH | |
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US $19.95 | 18d 14h 47m |
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COMORES NEW ISSUE CHINESE CHESS XIANGQI SHEET FDC | |
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US $25.95 | 18d 14h 47m |
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US $19.95 | 18d 14h 47m |
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XiangQi. Wood Chinese chess set. Game | |
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US $21.00 | 19d 20h 23m |
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"Vintage" Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, Wooden Chessmen | |
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US $5.89 | 22d 5h 37m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, 9.5" magnetic foldable board | |
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US $16.95 | 22d 6h 5m |
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HUGE CHINESE CHESS SET (XIANGQI) - ROSEWOOD 2¼" PIECES - INLAID 25" BOARD | |
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US $157.50 | 22d 14h 7m |
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Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, fine needlecraft chess pieces | |
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US $39.70 | 23d 7h 37m |
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XIANGQI (CHINESE CHESS) GOLD & GLASS CRYSTAL 15¾" BOARD | |
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US $39.60 | 23d 10h 15m |
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P1964 Postcard Xiangqi Chinese Chess | |
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US $9.99 | 23d 14h 16m |
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XIANGQI (CHINESE CHESS) DETAILED FIGURES 14" BOARD K=2" | |
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US $67.50 | 24d 16h 10m |
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WOOD BOARD FOR CHINESE CHESS (XIANGQI) - LARGE 20 INCH FOR 1½ to 1¾ INCH PIECES. | |
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US $44.10 | 24d 16h 10m |
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