Chinese Chess and Western Chess, they are closely related to each other. Therefore, if you scrutinize the way the pieces move in XiangQi and in its younger descendant, that very version of our eternal game that is governed by the "Federation Internationale des Echecs" (FIDE), you will find a lot of similarities and common features.
But there seems to exist one big exception: the telepotency of Eastern King-that amazing privilege in XiangQi that the commander-in-chief of a Chinese Chess army who does never leave his fortress can nevertheless exert deadly influence from there deep into enemy territory.
That long-distance weapon is similar to the effect of an extra Chariot on board. Therefore, if the King supports his two Chariots - that have lined up one behind the other on a given vertical - by stepping on that same lane discreetly in the background, that very telepotency of the commander-in-chief will produce a triple effect of the fire power of the heavy armour. The devastating effect of that kind of formation will be demonstrated by the final phase of a match of amateurs. Red Army is led by Mrs. Hong Heise, a charming but tough ethnic Vietnamese who is managing director of the Restaurant "Bac Ho" in Hamburg, Germany. The author is in command of the Black troops
Red: Mrs. Hong Heise
Black: Dr. Rene Gralla
Friendly match, Restaurant "Bac Ho", Hamburg/Germany; August 1st, 2004
Red about to move
After a fierce battle Red is one Chariot behind. But Mrs. Hong Heise still gives the author a hard time; so the latter has still to find an effective way to bring to bear the material surplus of Black.
The plan: to let the tanks break through on Black Line No. 4 (Red Line No. 6). That seems to be worth an Elephant.
Doubling of the Chariots.
Without additional units the Army of Chu can achieve nothing against the thick walls of the Fortress of Han.
Red can do nothing but wait for the storm to break out.
Now that River-crossed Pawn has the power of a small Chariot that supports the other two armoured vehicles.
After Black's
That is a constellation right out of the hand-book: two Chariots plus their General in the background - the triple-effect of heavy armour on Black Line No. 4 (Red Line No. 6). Since the River-crossed Black infantry unit is close enough to Red Palace a breakthrough by brute force is already possible ...
The telepotency of Black King amounts to the effect of an extra tank that protects Black Chariot 4x from the rear.
After Black's
Now Red has no defence against 14. ... P4=5 check 15.K4+1 R5=6 mate.
Consequence:Jazzing up the combined power of two Chariots by its telepotency, thus creating a fearsome force of tripled heavy armour: The King of International Chess may not even dare to think of that quasi surrealistic ability.
No doubt about that, the Occidental Monarch is more mobile than the Chinese Imperator. The Western Leader is not forced to stay throughout the battle in that small cage in the centre of XiangQi-action which is euphemistically called "palace". The FIDE-Majesty can - just like his colleague in Japanese Shogi - sneak away to the periphery of the theatre of operations and build a castle there. And in the final phase he will actively join in the action by often marching right into the enemy camp of his opponent and heading the mopping-up operation.
In contrast to that the characteristic strain of Chinese King is the double-edged feature of his capabilites. On the one hand, the General of XiangQi seems to be condemned to idleness - sitting like a lame duck in his bunker, waiting for his fate. But on the other hand he is very active: initiating cross-the-river strikes by letting ride a Chariot the telepotency's ray of laser directly into the headquarters of his opponent. With the eventual result of a sudden check-mate.
That is Asia: Ying and Yang in the Forbidden City.
So, once more again: The telepotency of the XiangQi-King seems to be unique. True? Well: not so. For there is a big surprise: Even that ostensible very special check-mate by the Chinese way of kingly telepotency plus supporting units in final hand-to-hand fighting finds a kind of equivalent in parallel cases of Western Chess. The FIDE-King has only to make an extra effort in order to compensate for the telepotency that is not at his command: Whereas the commander-in-chief of XiangQi does not need to leave his command post but can comfortably stay behind and push the buttons of his energy cannon the Western Majesty has to walk himself the whole and dangerous distance in order to corner his adversary.
But in the end the effect will be the same: Both Kings of Chess, be it XiangQi or the Western variant, have the means to capture their opponent - even in full midgame.
In the following we will discuss two striking examples that illustrate the foregoing.
First an instructive case in XiangQi that has climaxed during a match of amateurs in Germany: between an ethnic Vietnamese and the author.
Red: Nguyen Quang DieuBlack: Dr. Rene Gralla
Friendly match, March 19th, 2005, Hamburg/Germany; Internet-Cafe "Inselnet"
After bloody skirmishes Northern troops are pressing the Southern army which is already behind by one Elephant. Red Han and Black Chu have occupied the positions as follows:
Red - Elephant on Red Point 3i, Advisor on Red Point 4i, King on Red Point 5i, Advisor on Red Point 6i, Chariot on Red Point 8i, Chariot on Red Point 1ii, Cannon on Red Point 8ii, Pawn on Red Point 1iv, Pawn on Red Point 5iv, Pawn on Red Point 3v, Horse on Red Point 3vii;
Black - Cannon on Black Point 8ix, Chariot on Black Point 2viii, Pawn on Black Point 3v, Pawn on Black Point 5iv, Pawn on Black Point 9iv, Elephant on Black Point 5iii, Horse on Black Point 7iii, Advisor on Black Point 4i, King on Black Point 5i, Advisor on Black Point 6i, Elephant on Black Point 7i, Chariot on Black Point 8i.
Repatriating Red Horse back to South in order to break the Black blockade. The disadvantage of that plan: Now the Northern cavalry squadron on the right wing is free again to enter the battle.
Crossing the Huanghe already and thundering down into Southern territory.
Trying to get to the rescue - by defending Red Point 3ii (Black Point 7ix). If 3.H6+4 ... (menacing: 4.H4+3 check ...), then 3.... R8+1 protects the vital position Black Point 7ii (Red Point 3ix).
Getting ready for the devastating check: 4.... H9+7 check 5.C8=4 R2+2xR. A sure win.
Red Horse arrives just in time.
A transaction that is a mere exchange. By means of that exchange the Northern press on South will be upheld.
Black Cannon attacks Red Rook 1ii via the unwitting ramp of Red Horse 3ii.
Red Horse moves off - thus removing the ramp ...
Red Chariot 1ii is in exile again - on its own turf.
Looks great - that River-Crossed-Pawn ...
... winning a Pawn.
It would have been better to accept the exchange of Red Horse against Black Cannon - with the central Red Pawn 5iv as boot for Black.
Always very dangerous: the occupation of a central position by an attacking Cannon. Later, the position of that Black artillery unit will enable the Black General to execute his telepotency.
The one Red Elephant left on the right wing moves up and counters the threat of uncovered check: 12.... R5=9 uncovered check (by Black C5vi) plus 13. ... R9+2xR.
That move of the Advisor looks harmless - but it is full of poison. Black prepares for the final mate-attack - by mobilising the commander-in-chief himself.
Red's storming-party wants to drive Black's infantry out of the foxhole on Red Point 5vii (Black Point 5iv) - by threatening 14.P4=5xP ... .
Novices of Chinese Chess have to watch out for an unsuspecting move like that: Enemy King just stalks from one square to the other in his palace - and menaces check-mate at the same time. From very far away.
Due to the magics of telepotency Northern command can give up the - otherwise: vital - central infantry position on Black Point 5iv (Red Point 5vii) . Why?
If South strikes on Red Point 5vii (Black Point 5iv) by 14.P4=5xP? ..., the swift 14....R5=4!! will menace immediate check-mate on Red Point 6i (Black Point 4x). And Red's fate is sealed.
You do not believe that? Then have a closer look: The Southern command can do whatever they want to do - for instance blow up Northern Elephant on Black Point 5iii (Red Point 5viii): 15.P5+1xE ... . And now: 15.... R4+3 mate!
At this very moment we have the chance to watch that fabulous telepotency at full swing: The incoming Black Chariot 4x is taboo for the King of Han - since, if the Southern Monarch would try to overtake that armoured vehicle, Red Majesty would move straight on that very highway that is controlled by invisible laser artillery of Chu`s Ruler on Black Point 4i (Red Point 6x). Han's Advisor on Red Point 5ii can not drive the intruding Black Chariot from the gate of Red Palace on Red Point 6i (Black Point 4x) either, because Red Mandarin 5ii is pinned down by the Chu Cannon on Red Point 5v (Black Point 5vi).
Alas, Mr. Nguyen Quang Dieu does not overlook the menace by 13. ... K5=4!! (plus: 14. ... R5=4! & 15. ... R4+3 mate). He refrains from bayoneting Black Soldier on Red Point 5vii (Black Point 5iv) - 14.P4=5xP? ... - ; instead he finds an ingenious way to avoid a quick check-mate.
But the price is high - and Red has to blame Northern King and the Black Magic of Telepotency.
The alternative try 14.A5+4 ... makes no difference, for real.
Uncovered check by Black Cannon on Black Point 5vi (Red Point 5v) - whilst Black Chariot attacks Red Chariot on Red Point 1ii (Black Point 9ix).
Since there is no way of avoiding 18. ... R9+1xR:
The foregoing finale has demonstrated the way the telepotency of the King can decide a match of XiangQi.
And now a stunning parallel in Western Chess: a rare case where the Occidental monarch joins in the mating attack though the board is still full of pieces.
Richard Teichmann, one of the big shots in German chess history, has composed that highly entertaining miniature on the occasion of a visit to Glasgow in 1902 during a match against a bunch of Scotsmen.
White: Richard Teichmann
Black: Consultants
Glasgow 1902
In order to facilitate the comparison between the climax of the foregoing match of XiangQi [ Nguyen Quang Dieu vs. Dr. Rene Gralla ] (Hamburg 2005) with the follow-up example of FIDE-Chess, the Black pieces have been positioned on that Western diagram "down below" and the White pieces "high above" (traditionally it is vice versa, just like in Chinese Chess).
Moreover - in order to make the point of that little synopsis - the annotation of the moves of Western Chess plus the definition of the actual positions of the Western Chess-pieces have been transformed into the way that match of Western Chess would have been recorded if that would have been a match of Chinese Chess. The normal way of recording moves in Western Chess has been added and put in parentheses.
The coordinates of the position after Black's move no. 27 before White's move no. 28:
White - K*2i (Kg1), P*2ii (Pg2), R4ii (Re2), P*7ii (Pb2), P*8ii (Pa2), P*1iii (Ph3), P*6iii (Pc3), P*3v (Pf5), H*5vi (Nd6), A*4vii (Qe7);
Black: P*3v (Pc4), A*4iv (Qd5), P*2iii (Pb6), E*3iii (Bc6), P*6iii (Pf6), P*8iii (Ph6), P*1ii (Pa7), P*7ii (Pg7), R6i (Rf8), K*7i (Kg8).
The King of Western Chess does not possess the long-range killer of laser-telepotency. So White King starts a heroic long march - in order to meet his opponent face-to-face in Black Castle.
The Commander-in-chief breaks out of his bunker. Please remember: The King of Western Chess (FIDE-abbreviation: "K") has, apart from moving like the King in Chinese Chess, the additional power of moving one square diagonally. Moreover: The FIDE-Monarch can walk all over the board; his mobility is not limited by the walls of a palace (abbreviation therefore in "XiangQi-speak": "K*").
The Black alliance has no idea of what will happen soon. Please do note : Pawns in Western Chess (FIDE-abbreviation: "P") are allowed to move a double step if they have not yet moved from their starting-out position. After having executed the first move they are only allowed to move one step forward by each move. FIDE-Pawns move forward, but they strike in a different way: not forward - unlike XiangQi -, but, provided there is a possibility to strike, one square diagonally either to the left side forward or to the right side forward. Abbreviation therefore in "XiangQi-speak": "P*".
Therefore the Black Pawn on Black Square 3v (White Square 6iv) - Western Chess annotation: Pc5 - can not eat White Pawn on White Square 6iii (Black Square 3vi) - Western chess annotation: Pc3. On the contrary: the two Pawns are blocking each other.
A Pawn that has reached the base line of the enemy camp can be traded in for either a Western Chess-Queen, - Rook, - Bishop or -Knight.
Boldly leaving his castle.
Please pay attention to the other Western Chess pieces on the board: The Bishop (FIDE-abreviation: "B") moves like a XiangQi-Elephant on the diagonals - but without spatial limitations. The Bishop may move (or strike) one square diagonally or more provided there are unoccupied squares on the diagonal to move to or pieces to strike at. Abbreviation in "XiangQi-speak": "E*".
The Rook (abbreviation in FIDE-terminology: "R") moves like the XiangQi-Chariot. Abbreviation in "XiangQi-speak" : "R". The Knight (abbreviation conforming to FIDE: "N") gallops like the Horse in Chinese Chess. But the FIDE-Horse can not be blocked but it is able to jump. Abbreviation therefore in "XiangQi-speak": "H*".
The Western Chess-Queen (abbreviated conforming to FIDE-terminology: "Q") combines the capabilities to move like a Western Chess-Bishop plus to move like a Western Chess-Rook. But in the historical context the Western Chess-Queen is an advanced version of the XiangQi-Advisor and the Arab Chess-Vezir. Abbreviation therefore in "XiangQi-speak": "A*".
There he goes: making use of the right to move by double-step.
The Western Chess-author Lev Khariton who reports that match at www.chessbase.com/columns/columns.asp?pid=147 comments: "White is about to move his King to ... " Western Chess-Square g6 (in "XiangQi-speak": White Square 2vi [Black Square 7iii]) thus " ... creating the threat of imminent mate. The harmony of White's pieces strikes the eye. Especially, White's Knight ... " on FIDE-Square d6 (in "XiangQi"-speak: White Square 5vi [Black Square 4iii]) " ... is strong controlling the key squares e8 ... ", the foregoing allocation conforming to FIDE-terminology (in "XiangQi-speak": White Square 4viii [Black Square 5i]), plus "f7" (the foregoing again in FIDE-terminology; conforming to "XiangQi-speak": White Square 3vii [Black Square 6ii]).
Black wakes up and reacts: 30. ... P*7+1! (30. ... g6!), due to the ability of Western Chess-Pawns to strike diagonally, prevents White King from marching first to White Square 1v (Black Square 8iv); that is FIDE-Square h5. And further on to White Square 2vi (Black Square 7iii) - that is FIDE-Square g6.
But it is too late.
Other tries fail too.
Now Black Queen is on the rampage in the White camp - after the actual move 31. ... A*4+7xP* (31. ... Qxg2) - , but Mr. Teichmann keeps cool.
Since the Western King can not bring into action the long-range weapon of Chinese Chess-telepotency the FIDE-monarch is forced to directly approach his adversary
After the rather obvious 32. ... P*7+1 check (32. ... g5+) - a tempting check since Black now wins White Rook as an extra-fat boot - , there will be a quick knock-out for Black King:
Black has no defence anymore against the threat of check-mate:
And as we see now: The situation after - hypothetical -
can be compared to the parallel case of the foregoing XiangQi-match [ Nguyen Quang Dieu vs. Dr. Rene Gralla ] (Hamburg 2005) after 13. ... K5=4!!. Please compare once more again with the corresponding diagrams of that match in Chinese Chess.
If South would first have liquidated the Black infantry unit on Red Point 5vii (Black Point 5iv) and the Black Elephant on Black Point 5iii (Red Point 5viii) then the check-mate could not have been avoided.
Please see the - hypothetical - move-order:
That would have been the end - after the next move:
After having marked the virtual lines of force that both the Western Chess-King (in: [ R. Teichmann vs. Consultants], Glasgow 1902) and the Commander of Chinese Chess (in: [ Nguyen Quang Dieu vs. Dr. Rene Gralla ], Hamburg 2005) have sent direction to their respective opponents it is evident:
The ray of laser that has been produced by the Head of the Army-Command in Chinese Chess that is nothing but the corresponding tactical means of the capability of the Western Chess-King to directly approach his adversary.
It is a real eye-catcher: It is the same kind of arrow that kills the King - apart from the peculiarity of the Western Chess-thing to be a little bit crooked and twisted
Let's have a final look now at [R. Teichmann vs. Consultants ] (Glasgow 1902).
Black has avoided the fatal move-order:
The Consultants have played instead
- see the foregoing. But after few more moves they have been forced to resign anyway:
No power in the world can prevent White King from entering the fortress of his adversary - plus enabling White Queen to execute the check-mate on White Square 2vii (Black Square 7ii); in FIDE annotation: on Square No. g7.
To sum it up: The telepotency of the King in Chinese Chess is not as unique as it seems to be. There are corresponding matches in Western Chess that have been decided by means of the ability of FIDE-King to march right into the enemy camp in order to corner His Majesty's opponent.
So even telepotency is one more proof for the thesis that both XiangQi and the FIDE-version of our eternal game are just like branches at a commune huge tree that has grown throughout the milleniums.
The Tree of Chess.