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Becoming a Xiangqi Assassin Volume 1

Free Edition

By Jim Png

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CHAPTER 1: How to play Xiangqi and read

notation

In this chapter, a simple introduction to the game and the objectives of the

game will be introduced. There will also be detailed explanations of the chess

board, how to move the chess pieces, how to read simple notation and

explanation of simple terms.

Xiangqi or Chinese Chess, as it is also known, is one of the traditional forms

of chess that the Chinese play. It is a turn based game whereby in over-the-

board play, Red goes first. Unless specifically mentioned, in the puzzles

mentioned, Red would also go first.

The objectives of the game:

The objective of the game is to capture the enemy king before your own king

is captured. The game is ended when one of the kings is placed under

checkmate and captured, which automatically ends the game. The player

whose king is captured would lose the game while his opponent would win.

Another way to win a game of Xiangqi is to place the enemy king under

stalemate. If this is done, the player whose king is placed under a stalemate

would lose and the game would be ended. This is different from International

Chess whereby a stalemate would automatically result in a draw.

Winning a game can also be done when the enemy goes against the rules or

forfeits the game but that is beyond the scope of this book.

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The chessboard

Figure 1 The Chessboard

The game of Xiangqi is carried out over a chessboard. Nine vertical lines

called files and ten horizontal lines called ranks crisscross each other as

perfect squares to make up the chessboard. There is an empty space in the

middle of the board which is used to represent the river which separates the

two opposing factions.

By default, Red’s territory would be found at the bottom of the board, and

Black’s territory would be found at the top of the board. There are two

squares as marked in the diagram to represent the palace which house the king

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and advisors. There are special markings on the board called boardstars which

represent the initial placement of the cannon and pawns in the array, and may

or may not be present as they are not compulsory.

The chessboard would be described in detail again under the section of

Xiangqi notation.

The pieces:

Figure 2 The pieces and their representing symbols

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Figure 3 Notation for Linear Pieces (R,C,P)

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Figure 4 Notation for Advancing and Retreating Linear Pieces

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Xiangqi Puzzles

Puzzle 1

Puzzle 2

Puzzle 3

Puzzle 4

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Answers to Puzzles 1-2

Answers to Puzzle 1

Puzzle 05

A simple kill showing the power of

the 1r1h1c combination. Black

would be one move away from a

checkmate with R6=5. There is only

one way out for Red.

1. R2+9 E5-7

If Black did not retreat the elephant,

Red would still checkmate with the

same moves.

1a. R2+9 K6+1 2a. H1-2

K6+1 3a. C1+5 Checkmate.

2. R2=3 K6+1

3. H1-2 ……

Red has controlled Black's bottom

rank and throat rank with his chariot

and horse respectively.

3. …… K6+1

4. C1+5

Horse cannon checkmate.

For beginners, the horse would

control and prevent the enemy king

from escaping to another rank, while

the cannon would use the same

horse as a cannon mount to attack

the enemy king.

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Answers to Puzzle 2

Puzzle 06

A very simple puzzle. Red's horse is

at the elbow position, but is blocked

by his own pawn from delivering

the check.

Black's chariot on the same rib file

as the Red pawn would seem to

offer some protection, while at the

same time be threatening to

checkmate with R6+1.

1. P4=5 ……

Double check with the Red horse

and the pawn simultaneously. The

Red pawn is protected by the Red

cannon, so it cannot be captured by

the Black king.

1. …… K5=6

2. P5+1

Checkmate.

In this example, the strength of the

cannon is shown as it controlled the

throat rank.

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Actual Game 1

Red: The late famous Xiangqi expert Pang Xiaoyu from Suzhou

Black: Unknown

Event: Unknown friendly. A match played in 1961.

Black' turn. What would you do if you were red? Enjoy !

1. R4+1! ……

In the previous move, Black had played E3+1 to capture a Red cannon

thinking that he would be able to play R7=6 if need be to protect himself and

win with overwhelming material advantage.

R7=6 should have been played and Red would still require much effort to

win.

And Red pounced on the chance for a brilliant kill!

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1. …… A5-6

2. C1+2 A6+5

3. H3+4 R7-6

4. H4-5 A5-6

Red would checkmate with H5+7 or H5+3 if Black captured the Red cannon.

5. H5+3 K5+1 6. C1-1.

Checkmate!

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Appendix A: Introduction to players

Lü Qin 呂欽 (1962-present)

Title: International Grandmaster, Xiangqi Grandmaster

International Grandmaster Lü Qin is one of the most decorated Xiangqi

players of all time. He was from Huidong, Guangdong. Lü started learning

Xiangqi from his uncle when he was eight years old. Grandmaster Lü is well

known for his stubborn play, orthodox openings, cat-like reflexes on the

board, no-nonsense attacks and most of all, his speed of play.

Lü first major win was the 1978 National Youth Championship, and he was

selected to represent to Guangzhou to participate in the National Athletics

Meet.

International Grandmaster Lü's success in the National Individual

Championships is also the envy of many. He won the event in 1986, 1988,

1999, 2003 and 2004. He was second place in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996,

1997 and 2007 and was third place in 1983.

International Grandmaster Lü was also the person to have won the most Five

Rams Cup, winning the now defunct competition 11 times from 1989-2009.

The Five Rams Cup was considered the premiere tournament for the

champions of the champions. Amongst the eleven times that he won, there

were two three time streaks, allowing Lü to keep the coveted cup. Lü was also

a five time winner of the Yinli Cup, another tournament similar to the Five

Rams Cup, claiming the cup in 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000 and 2004.

In team competition, International Grandmaster Lü was one of the key factors

to the Guangdong team's phenomenal success. The Guangdong team has won

the National Team Championships fourteen times with him on the team.

International Grandmaster Lü's international resume is equally if not more

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impressive. Lü was the champion in the second ever Asian Cities Masters

Invitation in 1983 and was one of the main contributors to team China's

success in winning the teams division eight times from 1992-2008. In the

2007 Asian Indoor Games.

For his achievements, he has been selected to congress. His other roles

include coaching the Guangdong team and also manning the chess academy in

Guangdong.

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More eBook for you.

Another Xiangqi eBook I must shared with you!

The XiangQi Master From The Cave

By Wong Ping Loong

You can download the free edition from below link.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz5p8GOeCl33UTBvUGszSUpMYXc/view?

usp=sharing

OR visit

Xiangqi Elephant Game