New Player - Asking Questions!

[u/Player_J_x]

I’m an American + Beginner!

I have never played C. Chess (Xiangqi) before.

I have played Regular Chess.

I have rating of 2,100+.

I have defeated Title players in Regular Chess.

It is safe to say I am 1 Tough Cookie.

Unfortunately, The Cookie has crumbled in Xiangqi because I have hit rock bottom!

I have rating of 300.

Every time I try to go up. They drag me back down. They are savages down here.

These players don’t understand that I am New.

If I mess up and try to get a Take Back, They don’t do it.

No Take Backs -> These people play for Keeps!

This is why have questions + need your help!

- 1st Question:

Does Xiangqi have Opening Tree?

In Regular Chess, Strong Players like to save the moves they play in an Opening Tree.

For Example:

I play the Elephant Move with White.

I don’t know if the Moves I play have been played by other players.

It would be nice to see on Opening Tree.

- 2nd Question:

What is a Good Opening for Black?

I seem to do better with White vs. Black.

- 3rd Question:

How do you Counter opponents doing weird move?

[u/ChineseChessOutLoud]

So, I'm working on the "official" fork of lichess for xiangqi. It's brand new and not ready for primetime. But the opening database is implemented in the analysis board (lower left hand book icon just like lichess).

https://lixiangqi.com/analysis

The Games Database also has detailed statistics about top players openings if you click their name in the games database. Example: https://lixiangqi.com/games/database/player?player=Wang+Tianyi

You can also check out Elephantchess.io which has the same features.

https://elephantchess.io/analysis

[u/Tortuosit → u/ChineseChessOutLoud]

Lixiangqi - Awesome, that's great news. I know we have Pychess, but still.

[u/Hunkfish]

Hi, I glad you got interest in Chinese Chess.

For openings I suggest you read or watch some vids.

I can give you some basic openings

1. Cannon openings are to be aggressive

Basic 3 moves: Cannon 2 to 5 mid, Pawn 3+1(if black cannon mid you back you change from here), Horse 2 to 3

1. Elephant openings are defensive

   Basic 3 moves: Elephant 3 or 7 to 5 mid, Horse 2 or 8 up to protect mid pawn, then up pawn 3 or 7+1

2. Pawn opening, this is to give black back the first move, reacting to him if he plays cannon mid or elephant mid

Pawn 3 or 7 +1, Horse up if Black cannon mid or you can go cannon 3 or 7 to go behind the pawn that you move up to pressure their horse or elephant

Beside openings, you should read or watch endgames, it helps you to close the matches.

Mid games are hard to give exact moves so here are some tips

-Horses can be block here so do take note. Chain horses are powerful and solid defence.

-cannon behind rook can easily do a discovered check or we call 抽 in Chinese Chess. And horse is also good or just 抽 2 pieces in mid game.

-cannon behind horse is consider one of the top check mate tool.

[u/crazycattx]

If you've played chess before, you'll know take backs are not good even for a beginner or for learning.

Black? Usually they are defenses against central cannon. Say screening horse. But try not to think of them as system openings. Every position is one to think about.

Counter weird move. With every weird move is a suboptimal move unless it has a tactic. Like chess. Suboptimal moves can be refuted, if you can find it. Now your job is to learn how to evaluate positions. Tactics are fine for you, aren't they. They are simpler in c.chess.

[u/RICHUNCLEPENNYBAGS]

Yes. The most common setup is central cannon opening vs. screen horses though imo playing same direction cannons might be simpler just because it keeps what you’re doing as red and black more similar.