Chinese Chess (International Version)

中国传统象棋历史悠久、底蕴深厚。为便于全球非中文使用者参与对弈，我们将原有汉字棋子依据行棋规则转化为符号标识，推出国际版象棋。

Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) boasts a long history and profound cultural heritage. To enable global participation by non-Chinese speakers, we have replaced the traditional Chinese-character pieces with symbolic representations based on movement rules, developing the International Edition of Chinese Chess.

以下为介绍中国象棋的规则：

Here's the professional translation of the rules for the General (将/帅) in Chinese Chess:

1、将/帅

活动范围：九宫内（3×3格），每次横竖移动1格，不可与对方将帅直接照面（无遮挡时主动照面判胜）

1、Rules for the General (King):
Movement area: Confined within the 3×3 palace (nine-grid fortress).
Movement: Moves one square orthogonally (horizontally or vertically) per turn.
Special rule: Cannot face the enemy General directly on any open file/rank (Jiang Mian, 照面). If a player actively creates this unprotected facing position, it results in immediate victory.

2、士/仕

仅在九宫内斜走1格，用于贴身保护将帅

2、Rules for the Advisor (Guard):
Movement area: Exclusively within the 3×3 palace (nine-grid fortress).
Movement: Moves one square diagonally per turn.
Function: Dedicated to protecting the General/King at close range.

3、象/相

3、走“田”字对角线（2格），不能过河；若“田”字中心有棋子则“塞象眼”，无法移动

Rules for the Elephant (Minister):
Movement: Moves exactly two diagonal squares ("田" character path) per turn.
Restrictions:

• Cannot cross the river (demarcation line)
• Blocked if the center square is occupied ("塞象眼" Sāi Xiàng Yǎn)

4、车/俥

直线或横线任意距离移动，无格数限制，威力最大（“一车十子寒”）

4、Rules for the Chariot (Rook):
Movement: Travels any distance orthogonally (vertically or horizontally) with no range restriction.
Strategic value: The most powerful attacking piece ("One Chariot chills ten enemy pieces").

5、马/傌

走“日”字形（先直1格再斜1格），若前进方向有棋子则“蹩马腿”，无法跳跃

Rules for the Horse (Knight):
Movement: Moves in an "日"-shaped pattern (one orthogonal step + one diagonal step).
Restriction: Blocked if any piece occupies the adjacent orthogonal square in its moving direction ("蹩马腿" Bié Mǎ Tuǐ).

6、炮/砲

移动方式与车相同，但吃子需隔一子（无论敌我），即“炮打隔子”

Rules for the Cannon (Artillery):
Movement: Identical to the Chariot - travels any distance orthogonally when not capturing.
Capture: Must jump over exactly one piece (called a "screen") to strike the target. The screen can be any piece, ally or enemy ("Cannon strikes by screen-bounce").

7、兵/卒

未过河前只能直进1格；过河后可左右或直进1格，不可后退

Rules for the Soldier (Pawn):
Movement (before river-crossing):

• Advances one square forward per turn (no lateral/backward movement)

Movement (after river-crossing):

• Moves one square forward or horizontally per turn
• Cannot move backward

Strategic progression:
Soldiers transform from restricted units to flanking threats upon crossing the river ("A crossed river soldier equals a chariot" - 过河卒当车使).