Chinese Chess (Xiang Qi):  
How To Play Chinese Chess

Setup

The game can be handicapped by allowing the weaker player to start the game by making two or three moves on their side of the river.

The River

Capture

A capture is when the space where the opposition piece occupies is taken over by one’s Chess piece (equivalent to that of International Chess).

Check

A General is in check if the opponent's next move will capture him or her. When one’s General is in check, it is vital that the General is either moved away from the attempted capture, or another piece is manuevered in front of the potential capture (or in the case of an attack from the Cannon, it is important to move the screen [Gun mount] out of the way or the attacking piece is captured by a member of the opposition’s own army. (See Gun mount.)

Checkmate/Stalemate

Checkmate is a position where the General is in check and there is no other alternative to escape from the action of checking. Chinese Chess can also be won by forcing the enemy into a position where he has no legal moves available, even though the opposition General may not be in check.

Korean Chess

This same set can also be used to play Korean Chess. The rules for Korean Chess are the same as Chinese Chess with the following exceptions:

• The General (King) starts in the exact center of the Imperial Palace.
• The General and Guards move one point along any line within the Imperial Palace.
• The Elephant moves one intersection forward and two diagonally (like an extended knight the two intervening points must be blank), and may cross the river.
• One pair of Knights and Elephants may be reversed in their initial placement. (This is not required.)
• Cannons cannot operate as screens for other Cannons and cannot capture other Cannons.
• Cannons must vault over another piece to move as well as to capture.
• The Soldier moves one space forward, left or right from the beginning of the game.

Note:   Depending on the type of professional/amateur tournaments and matches, there are different set of rules pertaining to time allowance, draws, and other technical matters. (But that is topic for another day.)