Chinese Chess V+

Want an alternate to western chess then why not try chinese chess / xiangqi.

Welcome to the 21st Anniversary Edition of Chinese Chess. Relieve boredom, have fun and exercise your mind all at the same time with this classic chess board game.

ZingMagic’s critically acclaimed Chinese Chess application is a fun, stimulating and interesting alternative to western Chess.

Just like western Chess, the aim of the game is to capture your opponent's King. You have seven pieces at your disposal, each with their own rules of movement. The board includes diagonal lines as well as horizontal ones, and pieces move along lines stopping where they intersect. The blank area in the middle of the board represents the Yellow River that divides north and south China. The major pieces in Chinese Chess come into play much quicker, allowing for a faster and less drawn out game.

Never played before, not a problem. The game helps you at every step with hints, legal move display, piece move information, game information and 20 levels of play enabling you to learn chinese chess at your own pace.

Game features:

* Play against the computer or another human player on the same device.

* Over 20 levels of play to suit your mood.

* Award winning artificial intelligence engine from acknowledged Chinese Chess experts.

* Support for alternate boards and pieces.

* Chinese and Western piece sets.

* Full undo and redo of moves.

* Show last move.

* Show legal moves.

* Show threatened pieces.

* Ability to display piece names to help beginners.

* Hints.

* Chinese Chess is just one of our large collection of best of breed classic board, card and puzzle games available for a wide range of platforms.

What's New in the Latest Version 5.25.81

Last updated on Jul 6, 2024

Updated all dependant SDKs.
Will include various bug fixes and stability improvements.

Chinese Chess V+, also known as Xiangqi, is a strategy board game that originated in China over 2,500 years ago. It is a two-player game played on a 9x10 board with 32 pieces. The objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent's general, similar to Western chess.

Board and Pieces

The board is divided into three sections: the palace, the river, and the camp. Each player has 16 pieces:

* General (1): The most important piece, which cannot leave the palace.

* Advisor (2): Moves diagonally within the palace.

* Elephant (2): Moves diagonally, but cannot cross the river.

* Horse (2): Moves in an "L" pattern, jumping over other pieces.

* Chariot (2): Moves horizontally or vertically, like a rook in Western chess.

* Cannon (2): Moves like a rook, but can capture by jumping over another piece.

* Soldier (5): Moves forward one square at a time, except on the first move where it can move two squares.

Gameplay

Players take turns moving one piece at a time. The game begins with the red player making the first move. Players must follow the rules for each piece's movement.

* Palace: The general and advisors can only move within the palace.

* River: Elephants cannot cross the river.

* Jumping: Horses and cannons can jump over other pieces.

* Capturing: Pieces capture by moving onto the same square as an opponent's piece.

* Check and Checkmate: When the general is under attack, it is in "check." If the player cannot escape check on their next turn, it is "checkmate" and the game is over.

Special Rules

* Double Check: If the general is attacked by two pieces simultaneously, it is considered "double check" and cannot be blocked.

* Perpetual Check: If the same check is repeated three times in a row, the game is declared a draw.

* Stalemate: If the player whose turn it is to move has no legal moves, but their general is not in check, the game is declared a draw.

Variations

Chinese Chess V+ has several variations, including:

* Double Cannon: Each player has two additional cannons.

* Horse Cannon: The horse and cannon are combined into a single piece.

* Three-Player Chess: A variation played with three players on a larger board.

Strategy

Chinese Chess V+ is a complex game that requires strategic thinking and tactical skill. Key strategies include:

* Controlling the Center: Controlling the center of the board gives your pieces more mobility and attacking options.

* Protecting the General: Keep your general well-protected and avoid exposing it to attack.

* Developing Your Pieces: Move your pieces out early to gain control of the board.

* Attacking Weaknesses: Identify and exploit weaknesses in your opponent's position.

* Planning Ahead: Consider your opponent's potential moves and plan your strategy accordingly.