Wooden Chinese Chess Board Game Xiangqi

Chinese Xiangqi, also known as Chinese Chess or Elephant Chess, is a two-player board game that originated in China over a thousand years ago. It is similar to Western Chess in that it is a game of strategy where players take turns moving pieces on a board with the goal of capturing the opponent's king.

In Xiangqi, the board is a 9x10 grid, and the pieces are placed on the intersections of the lines rather than the squares. Each player starts with 16 pieces, including a king, two advisors, two elephants, two knights, two rooks, two cannons, and five pawns. The pieces move differently from their counterparts in Western Chess, and each has its own unique abilities and restrictions.

One of the most distinctive features of Xiangqi is the river that runs through the center of the board, which restricts the movements of certain pieces. Xiangqi is played throughout China, as well as in other countries with significant Chinese populations. It is a popular pastime among people of all ages and is often played in public parks and other communal spaces.

1. The game is played on a board consisting of a 9x10 grid with intersecting lines. Each player starts with 16 pieces of different types, placed on opposite sides of the board.
2. The objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king. A king is in check if it can be captured by an opposing piece on the next move.
3. The player who moves first is determined by a coin toss or other random method.
4. Players take turns moving their pieces, with each move consisting of moving one piece to a different point on the board. Pieces may not move through other pieces, but may capture an opposing piece by moving to its location.
5. Each type of piece moves in a specific way. The king moves one point in any direction, but cannot leave the palace (a 3x3 area at the center of the player's home side). The advisor moves one point diagonally within the palace. The elephant moves two points diagonally, but may not cross the river. The horse moves one point horizontally or vertically, followed by one point diagonally. The chariot moves any number of points horizontally or vertically. The cannon moves like a chariot, but must jump over exactly one piece (friend or foe) to capture an opposing piece. The pawn moves one point forward (toward the opponent's side) on its initial move, and one point forward or one point diagonally thereafter. When a pawn reaches the opponent's side of the board, it may be promoted to any other piece except for a king.
6. The river divides the board into two halves. Certain pieces have restrictions on their movements across the river. The elephant may not cross the river, and the pawn may only move sideways or forward after crossing the river.
7. The game ends when one player's king is checkmated or if a stalemate is reached (where neither player can make a legal move).
8. Draws can also occur in other situations, such as if both players repeat the same sequence of moves three times or if both players agree to a draw.
9. Xiangqi has many additional rules, such as the rule of perpetual check and the rule of bare king. Players are encouraged to study the game and its nuances in order to improve their skills.