Kiisys -- Friends of Chinese Chess in Finland

Updated 13.07.2007

Chinese Chess – XiangQi

Welcome to the home site of The Friends of Chinese Chess in Finland.

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The 10th World Xiangqi Championship in Macao 2007.

Here the Finnish players

Not-playing Captain: Lindroos Raimo

Players: Rossi Jorma, Rämö Jouni, Rönkkö Seppo, Stenman Olavi, Törnqvist Mikko, Vaara Arto

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Xiangqi openings

HOW XIANGQI HAS FOUND ITS WAY TO FINLAND

R. Lindroos

During my tourist trip in China and Hong Kong in May 1992 I had a fabulous luck - I learned Chinese chess. The roots of this game go back to thousands of years and it is known by millions of men and women.

After returning home I wrote some articles about Xiangqi and got some answers of persons who where eager to think over the Xiangqi possibilities in Finland. So I prepared rules for a national union and invited an inaugural meeting in Helsinki, where KiiSYS (The Friends of Chinese Chess in Finland) was founded on 17th September in 1992 as a national organization.

Since that I have started to learn Chinese to understand better Chinese Xiangqi books. I think this is also the best way when I try to find new Xiangqi lovers in Finland and teach them this fine game. I think that Chinese chess and international chess are more similar than different.

So far we have usually had 2 to 8 players in each our tournaments, sometimes more - it's up to foreign visitors. There are five local clubs which are situated in Helsinki, Järvenpää, Oulu, Lapinjärvi (inactive since 2000) and Tampere (inactive since 1995).

We organize each year at least two open tournaments, but Finnish participants should be members of KiiSYS and have paid their annual fees. So far Finns have organized some 30 tournaments with approximately 300 participants alltogether. KiiSYS has held the Open Finnish Championship Tournament, at Lapinjärvi in Eastern Uusimaa in 1993 to 2000.

A few Finns have played abroad in the 1990s: Exmouth (in England), London, Paris, Lingen (in Germany), Las Vegas, Honolulu and Hong Kong. The next foreign players have played in Finnish tournaments during 1990s: Xu Tianhong, Tao Hanming, Ouyang Quilin (all from China), Uwe Frischmuth, Stefan Scholz, Norbert Schäfer (all from Germany) and Corrigan Francis from France.

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Xiangqi_openings

A short introduction to the most common xiangqi openings

Some of the most important xiangqi openings are introduced here. The purpose is to help new players to get started with the game. This kind of short introduction can naturally not be very comprehensive. It only contains few examples of the most common opening variations. Some openings have been introduced with only one line. Our source of information has been Chinese opening books. We have used the Chinese notation system and the names and the abbreviations for the pieces follow the WXF (World Xiangqi Federation) standard. (K=King, R=Chariot, H=Horse, C=Cannon, E=Elephant, A=Advisor, P=Pawn) The names for the openings follow the practice of English xiangqi books. In some cases the Chinese names have also been mentioned.

The xiangqi openings follow the same principles as the chess openings. There are naturally also some differences. The most important thing in the opening is the quick development of the pieces. Moving the center pawn (P5+1) in the opening, which is common in chess, is a mistake in xiangqi. After the reply C2=5 (or C8=5) red loses his center pawn! The center line is strategically important but moving the center pawn makes sense only later when the player is ready to attack. Moving the 3. or 7. line (c and g line in algebraic notation) pawn is a useful development move because after that the horse can advance to the center and the pawn move hinders the corresponding opponent move. The important question is how to arrange the horses, cannons and elephants on the 3. rank. The chariots should be developed as soon as possible.

The most popular and aggressive opening move is 1.C2=5. It has been estimated that about 70% of all games begin with this move. The cannon threatens the opponents center pawn and it prepares for the attack. Attempting to win material and neglecting the development with moves like 1.C2=3 can be a dangerous waste of time.

Black has four very popular and reliable defences against the central cannon opening.

”Screen horses” aka “Two horses defence” (Ping Feng Ma) is the most popular black defence. Black moves both of his horses between the cannons to protect the center pawn. This opening has several variations.

”Fan Gong Ma” (The name is difficult to translate) is another opening where black developes both his horses towards the center but one of the cannon is paced on the palace corner between the horses. black can now connect his elephants. This opening is relatively new. Red has several ways to attack but the black position is solid.

”Same direction Cannon” opening starts with the moves 1.C2=5, C8=5. Black replies with a symmetrical move. This cannon move is possible because the immediate capture of the defenceless center pawn with 2.C5+4 loses time and black gets the initiative. This capture is only played by amateurs.

”Opposite direction Cannon” opening starts with the moves 1.C2=5, C2=5. Here red and black move their cannons to the opposite directions. The modern practice is to make the black cannon move later. (“Delayed opposite direction Cannon”).

The fifth interesting alternative is ”The Three Step Tiger” opening. This name refers to the system where the player develops his chariot quickly by moving the cannon to the edge of the board. (For example with the moves H2+3, C2=1 and R1=2) This way of development can lead to other openings

Other defences against the central cannon are rare.

Red naturally has other opening moves besides the central cannon. These systems are sometimes called “Soft openings” because the opening move is not a threat.

”The pawn opening” (1.P7+1) is a very flexible system. The red opening move is a useful development move but all the choises concerning piece development are still open. Black usually does not answer with the central cannon because red could then play any of the central cannon openings with colors reversed and the pawn move would be an extra advantage.

”The elephant opening” (1.E3+5) is a very solid opening where red first protects his King by connecting the elephants.

”The horse opening” (1.H2+3) starts with a natural development move. Red can play the Two horse defence, The Fan Gong Ma or Three step tiger opening with the colors reversed.

Red can also play his cannon to the front corner of the palace with the move 1.C2=4 (”Palcorner Cannon”) or 1.C2=6 (“Crosspalace Cannon”). These moves are also useful developing moves.

Other red opening moves like 1.H8+9 (”Edge Horse”), 1.C2=3 or 1.C2=7 are very rare.

Chess grandmaster Robert Hubner, who has also played Chinese chess, has said that the Chinese chess does not have as much opening theory as chess but there is more endgame theory.

Olavi Stenman and Timo Aitta

THE MOST COMMON XIANGQI OPENINGS (17.1.2007 / TA,OS)

1) Central Cannon Openings

Two horse defence, Screen horses 1. C2=5 H8+7 2. H2+3 R9=8

3. P7+1 P7+1 4. H8+7 H2+3 5. R1+1 /C8+2 /C8=9

3. R1=2 P7+1 4. P7+1 C8+4 5. H8+7 E3+5 /C2=5

4. R2+6 H2+3 5. P5+1 A4+5

5. C8=6 R1=2 6. H8+7 C2=1 7. P5+1

5. H8+7 P3+1 6. R9+1 C2+1 7. R2-2 E3+5 8. P3+1 /P7+1 /R9=6 (“Two headed

H2+3 4. P3+1 P3+1 5. C8+4 E7+5 /H3+2 snake“)

5. H8+9 E3+5 6. C8+4

E7+5 6. R9+1

P1+1 6. C8=7 H3+2 7. R9+1 P1+1 /E7+5 /E3+5

4. H8+9 P7+1 5. C8=6 R1=2 6. R9=8 C2+4 7. R2+4 C8=9 8. R2=4

5. C8=7 R1=2 6. R9=8 C2+4 / C2+2 /C8+4

4. P7+1 P7+1 5. C8=7 C8+2 6. H8+9

C2+4 6. R2+4

5. H8+7 E3+5 6. C8+2

C8+2 6. H7+6

C2+4 6. R2+4 C2=7 7. E3+1

6. P5+1 C8+4 (“River crossed cannons”)

5. R2+6 R1+1 6. H8+7 /C8=7

H7+6 6. H8+7 E3+5/R1+1/P7+1

C2+4 6. P5+1 E3+5 7.H8+7 A4+5 8. R9+1/C8=9

A4+5 6. H8+7 /C8=7

C8=9 6. R2=3 R8+2 7. H8+7 E3+5 (“Edge cannon”)

C9-1 7. P5+1 /H8+9/C8=6

7. H8+7 R1+1 8. C8=9

A4+5 8. H7+6/C8=9

Delayed opposite direction cannon 1. C2=5 H8+7 2. H2+3 R9=8 3. R1=2

C2=5 4. R2+6 /H8+7

C8+4 4. P3+1 C2=5 5. C8+5 H2+3 (“Modern variation”)

5. H8+7 R1+1 6. R9=8 R1=8 7. H3+4 /P7+1

H2+3 6. P7+1 R1=2 7. R9=8 R2+6 8. H7+6 /C8=9

R2+4 8. C8=9 R2=8 9. R8+6 P7+1/C8=7/C5=6

6. R9=8 P3+1 7. H3+4 C8+1/R1=2/R1+1

7. C8+4 C8=7 8. C8=7

Parrot cannon 1. C2=5 H8+7 2. H2+3 R9+1 3.R1=2 C8-1 4. H8+9 E3+5

4. H8+7 P3+1

Three step tiger (Left) 1. C2=5 H8+7 2. H2+3 R9=8 3. P7+1 C8=9

4. H8+7 C2=5 5. R9=8 H2+3 7. P3+1/R1+1

P7+1 5. R1+1/C8+2 /H7+6

R8+5 5. P5+1 /E7+9

Three step tiger (Left) 1. C2=5 H2+3 2. H2+3 T2=1 3. H8+7 R1=2 4. R9=8 R2+6 5. C8=9

Fan Gong Ma 1.C2=5 H2+3 2. H2+3 C8=6

3. R1+1 H8+7 4. R1=4 R9=8 5. H8+7 A4+5 6. P5+1/R9+1

3. R1=2 H8+7 4. C8=6 R1=2 5. H8+7 C2=1 6. P7+1 P7+1 7. H7+6 A6+5

4. P7+1 P7+1 5. R2+6 R9+2/A4+5

4. P3+1 P3+1 5. H8+9 E3+5 6. C8=6/C8=7

E7+5 6. C8=6/C8=7

One horse defence 1. C2=5 H2+3 2. H2+3 R9+1 3. R1=2 H8+9 4. P7+1 C8=7 5. H8+7 E3+5 /R9=4

Yuan Yang cannons 1. C2=5 H2+3 2. H2+3 P7+1 3. R1=2 R9+2 4. H8+7 C2-1 5. R2+6

Same direction cannon 1. C2=5 C8=5 2. H2+3 H8+7

3. P3+1 R9=8/R9+1

3. R1+1 R9=8 4. R1=6 R8+4 5. H8+7 H2+3/A6+5

3. R1=2 P7+1 4. H8+7 H2+3 5. P7+1 R1+1

4. P7+1 C2+4 5. H8+7 H2+3/R9+1

R9+1 5. H8+7 R9=4 6. R2+4 H2+3 7. P3+1

R9+1 4. R2+6 P3+1 5. R2=3 H2+3

5. C8=7 H2+3 6. P7+1 H3+4

4. C8=6 H2+3 5. H8+7 R1=2 6. R9=8 C2+4 7. C6+5 R9=7 8. R2+6 H7-9

R9=4 5. A4+5 H2+1 6. H8+7 R1=2 7. R9=8 R4+5 8. R2+6 C5=3

4. H8+7 H2+3 5. P7+1 R1+1 6. P3+1/C8+1

R9=4 5. P7+1 H2+1 /H2+3/R4+5

5. P3+1 R4+4 6. C5=4 /E3+1

P3+1 6. R2+5 E3+1 7. C8=9

H2+1 6. H3+4

H2+3 6. P7+1 R1+1 7. A6+5 R4+5 8. E7+9 (“Double head snake”)

Opposite direction cannon 1. C2=5 C2=5 2. H2+3

H2+3 3. R1=2 R1=2 4. H8+7 H8+7 5. R9=8 R9=8 6. C8+4

H8+7 4. C8=6

H8+9 3. R1=2 R9=8 4. H8+9 /H8+7

2) Other Openings

Pawn opening 1.P7+1

P7+1 2. C2=3 C8=5

2. H8+7 H8+7 3. R9+1/C8=9

H8+7 2. P3+1 C2=3/C8=9/R9+1

C2=3 2. C2=5 E3+5 3. A6+5 P7+1/H8+7

3. H8+9 R9+1/H8+7

3. H2+3 R9+1 4. R1=2 R9=2 5. H8+7 H2+4 6. C8=9 H8+9 7. H7+6

P3+1 4. R1=2 P3+1 5. H8+9 (“Gambit variaton”)

Elephant opening 1. E3+5 P7+1 2. H8+9/P7+1

C8=5 2. H2+3 H8+7 3. R1=2 R9=8 4. H8+7 H2+1/R8+6/P7+1

C8=4 2. H2+3 H8+7 3. R1=2 H2+1/P7+1

C2=4 2. R9+1 H2+3 3. R9=6 H8+7 4. H8+9 R1=2 5. P9+1

Horse opening 1. H2+3 P7+1 2. P7+1 H8+7 3. H8+7 R9+1/H2+3

2. C2=1 H8+7 3. R1=2 R9=8 4. R2+6 C8=9

2. C8=6 H8+7 3. H8+7 H2+1

Palcorner cannon 1. C2=4 C2=5 2. H8+7 H2+3 3. H2+3 H8+9 4. R1=2 R9=8 5. R9=8 R1=2 6. C4+5/C8+4

Crosspalace cannon 1. C2=6 C8=5 2. H2+3 H8+7 3. R1=2 R9+1 4. R2+6 R9=4 5. A4+5 H2+3

CANCELLED!!!!

(Chinese translation below / Mikko Tornqvist)

Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) August tournament at Järvenpää
on August the 5th and 6th (2006)

The tournament takes places at Oksapolku 1, Järvenpää (approximately 40 kilometers from Helsinki). Everybody is welcome to take part in it.

If you are interested in participating in the tournament, please send e-mail to raimo (dot) lindroos (at) kolumbus (dot) fi in order to sign up, or call Raimo Lindroos: 050-3235 025 (Please use English while signing up).

Schedule:
Each player is given 45 minutes time per round.
Referees will be appointed before the 1st round.

Saturday August the 5th : Confirmation of participation 10:30 šC 10:45
1st round : (approx.) 11:00
2nd round : (approx.) 12:30
3rd round : (approx). 14:00

Sunday August the 6th :
4th round : 11:00
5th round : (approx.) 12:35
The results and prizes will be presented at about 14:30

Non-Finnish players can participate in the tournament for free.

Prizes : Xiangqi books and other related material. The players can choose their prizes in the order of results.

Coffee, tea and other refreshments available for a small fee.

Organized by : Chinese Chess Association of Järvenpää (Järkis)
Organization committee : Arto Vaara (General management)
Raimo Lindroos (signing up and public relations)

Getting there :
1) The H-train from Helsinki stops at Saunakallio station, from where it is a 500 meter walk to the game site (located in the back of Jamppa shopping center). Please refer to the map at :
http://kartat.eniro.fi/query?stq=0&what=map&asearch=1&streetname=Oksapolku+1&streetnumber=&city=J%E4rvenp%E4%E4
2) Other players from Helsinki area might be able to give you a ride there in their car, please ask Mikko Törnqvist
mikko (dot) tornqvist (at) hut (dot) fi

Welcome!

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CANCELLED!!!!

大家好，
湖头市象棋联合会将在2006年8月5日至8月6日（周六至周日）举行中国象棋比赛，比赛地点在湖头市（Järvenpä ä），小枝路1 号（Oksapolku 1）的青年活动中心（Jampan nuorisotila）。

若对比赛感兴趣，请发电子邮件至raimo (dot) lindroos (at) kolumbus (dot) fi报名，或给Raimo Lindroos打电话：050-3235 025（报名的时候请用英语）。

日程表：
每一轮比赛时间定为大概一个小时半，共5轮
8月5日：报到于10:30至10:45
第一轮 : (大概) 11:00
第二轮 : (大概) 12:30
第三轮 : (大概) 14:00

8月6日：
第四轮 : 11:00
第五轮 : (大概) 12:35
颁奖暨闭幕礼：（大概）14:30

非芬兰人能免费参加比赛。

各棋手会按结果顺序择小奖品（含象棋书等）。

在比赛地点上还有点心（要支付小费）。

举行委员会：（湖头市象棋联合会）
Arto Vaara （负责人）
Raimo Lindroos(报名，公关)

到达指南：
1）在赫尔辛基上H火车，在Saunakallio站下车，从那里到比赛地点大概五百米。比赛地点在Jamppa购物中心后面。请参考以下的地图：
http://kartat.eniro.fi/query?stq=0&what=map&asearch=1&streetname=Oksapolku+1&streetnumber=&city=J%E4rvenp%E4%E4
2）你可能坐另外的赫尔辛基地域的棋手的车去那里，请问Mikko Törnqvist
mikko (dot) tornqvist (at) hut (dot) fi

大家欢迎！

注：赫工大（HUT）国际象棋俱乐部每星期一下午6点开始在健壮人路1A 号（Jämeräntaival 1A）棋牌室（Game room）下中国象棋，欢迎大家届时踊跃参加！

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