Elephant Chess - The new Chinese Chess Interface

for Windows, OSX and Linux

Use with caution, as the software is still in development.

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Introduction

ElephantChess is a Chinese Chess (XiangQi) GUI application designed to play and analyze games, similar to how "Arena" functions for European Chess.

• Learn about XiangQi on Wikipedia
• Download Elephant Chess: Latest

Features

• European and chinese Pieces
• Load and save games
• PikaFish integration
• Navigate in the the game

Installation

Download the zip file, extract it, and follow the installation instructions. Latest

Compatibility

Should run on Windows directly and after building on macOS, Linux and WSL.

Rules

Xiangqi is played on a 9x10 board divided by a "river", with pieces positioned on intersections. The game involves two players, Red and Black, each equipped with a set of distinct pieces: one General, two Advisors, two Elephants, two Horses, two Chariots, two Cannons, and five Soldiers.

Objective

The primary goal is to checkmate the opponent's General.

Gameplay Rules

• 將/帥 (Jiàng/Shuài) - General/King: Moves one point orthogonally within the palace, a specific 3x3 region. 將 (Jiàng) is used by the black side. 帥 (Shuài) is used by the red side.
• 士 (Shì) - Guard/Advisor: Moves one point diagonally, remaining within the palace. Sometimes also translated as "Mandarin."
• 象/相 (Xiàng) - Elephant: Moves two points diagonally, cannot cross the river. 象 (Xiàng) is used by the black side. 相 (Xiàng) is used by the red side. Known as "Minister" in some English descriptions.
• 馬 (Mǎ) - Horse: Moves in an “L” shape, can be blocked by other pieces.
• 車 (Jū) - Chariot/Rook: Moves any number of points along a row or column.
• 炮/砲 (Pào) - Cannon: Moves like the Chariot but must jump over one piece to capture another. Both 炮 and 砲 are used, depending on the regional writing system (simplified vs. traditional).
• 卒/兵 (Zú/Bīng) - Soldier/Pawn: Moves one point forward; after crossing the river, it can also move sideways. 卒 (Zú) is used by the black side. 兵 (Bīng) is used by the red side.

Players take turns, with each move aiming to threaten the opponent's General. The game concludes by checkmate or stalemate, the latter occurring if a player cannot make a legal move and their General is not in check.