What is Xiangqi? Xiangqi is strategy board game introduced by the Chinese and is also known as western chess, chaturanga, shogi, etc that has become quite popular throughout the world. If you love playing Chinese chess then you should also play Xiangqi, which is quite similar to western chess with slight variations. There are many gaming websites where you can play different levels of Xiangqi and enjoy the game to the fullest.

The game of Xiangqi is played between two opponents with a sole motive to capture the opponent’s general piece. Moreover, in case of Xiangqi the player has to focus on the movements of the cannon or the general, thus having certain similarities with modern chess. Xiangqi is a popular game in China like modern chess and similarly, the general is the king in Xiangqi whereas the other pieces are referred as advisor or guard, who protects the general or the king from being attacked. Besides the advisor or the guard there are also the Elephants, Horses, Chariots, and Soldiers, the pieces you might also find in modern chess.

Xiangqi consists of certain features that might not be present in modern chess such as river, palace, and you should place the pieces on the intersecting lines rather than on the squares. Studies have indicated that, the Xiangqi pieces were discovered by the Song dynasty whereas the chessboard was originally discovered by the Ming dynasty. It is true that there are thirty-two pieces in a Xiangqi set and if you visit the Shanxi Museum of History, you would find the Xiangqi set discovered by the Song dynasty.If you ever visit Beijing, you might find many people enjoying a game of Xiangqi on the streets. With the advent of the Internet, many people prefer playing Xiangqi online; as they help you enjoy the different levels of the game and add more to the excitement. Whether you want to play Xiangqi online or offline, you should be aware of the rules of the game so that you can enjoy the game to the maximum. Anybody interested in Xiangqi should be aware of the fact that the intersecting lines are the points, the erecting lines are the files, and the flat lines are the ranks. Additionally, to your knowledge, the obstacle created by the infantry or the pawns is reduced largely. In case of modern chess, the cannons can jump and capture in case of Xiangqi to threaten the opponents, which might not be similar to modern chess. Lastly, the king or the general can move within the palace, due to which they can be easily captured unless they are defended by the other pieces.

While playing modern chess, the gamer needs to focus upon the few rows in the center, which may not be present while playing Xiangqi. Additionally, the chessboard used in Xiangqi would be somewhat bigger than the board used in western chess although the total number of pieces would be the same. It is true that the pieces used in Xiangqi may not be as strong and powerful as modern chess, but you need to play the game carefully and with detailed attention. Moreover, pieces such as the chariot, pawn do not play a major role in case of Xiangqi. Make sure to be thorough with the rules while playing the game.