I started to play Xiangqi just a few days ago because i am in China now and my father-in-law plays Xiangqi long time and i am an experienced chess player. I have no chance against him, he says he is a moderate player in China. My problems were especially the cannons (and pins of it), the elephants (where you should be careful to put pieces at "their positions") and the knights that could be blocked and then could not defence pieces anymore, my father-in-law use this regularly and then i see my piece(s) is not defenced anymore because of the block. Also checkmate is easily possible by the cannon at last row and by the rook with the help of the king (you cant strike the rook with your king then). But i am only busy a few days and played against the computer first and now start playing against other players. Your video is very useful because most videos about Xiangqi is about the move of the pieces but this is easily learned. Mainly the tactics is more hard to learn and this help, from an experienced player like you, is really helpful, thanks!
11:52 Given that Kg2 exposes the king on the long diagonal, an alternative explanation is that Kg2 exploits a zugzwang (c5 can be countered by Ba3) so Black is compelled to make a weakening move..
I have been trying to learn xiangqi recently. I’ve played chess since I was little. I’m 18 now, am an IM, and have one of my GM norms. So I’m still going to stick primarily to chess. Especially since I’m pretty sure I can at least make GM. But I’ve always been fascinated with any game originating from chaturanga. Shogi, for example, is an absolutely fascinating game to me. I think we can all agree that it’s the most complicated between chess, xiangqi, and itself. But I’ve been having a bit of a hard time really learning xiangqi. I think the first bit that was difficult for me were pieces like the canon, the horse, and the general. The canon because of its unique capturing ability, which leads to really sneaky pins. The horse because, unlike the knight, it can be blocked, and therefore means that the center isn’t always the best place for it. And the general because, for some reason, I couldn’t get used to the fact that it doesn’t move diagonally and can be used offensively by placing it on an open file. After I got somewhat used to that, which didn’t really take long, I started having different issues. That’s what I’m dealing with now. I am just having so much trouble breaking away from chess principles. The weird thing is that xiangqi is deceptively similar to chess, but many of the principles are very different. Like, for example, whether or not to develop the major pieces early. It certainly has its similarities, but it is vastly different in some regards.
Joep: Hi Vyrtil Anyrwen! I am the guy in the video, and a friend at xiangqi.com alerted me to your message. Your story feels very familiar, although the IM title is a bit out of my reach, haha. Agreed that shogi is the most complicated mathematically. It's great fun, with many sacrifices for the initiative! Yeah, cannons are tricky, and that's okay because they always will be. My own main hurdles when I started playing were horses and generals, too. As a chess player I learned that a white knight attacking a black knight goes the other way around as well. Not true in xiangqi, and that messed up my calculations a lot. Got used to it after some time. I have one video on this channel about the opening principles, and *why* they are so different. Perhaps you will find that interesting, too, although I think that you already learned several of the lessons in that one. ruclips.net/video/WCJZj6szAJk/видео.html I totally agree with you prioritizing chess for now, being so close to the GM title. Good luck with your journey, I am rooting for you to make it!
That does protect both cannons, but it places the rook itself under attack (black cannon on the same file). That might be the reason I missed the move altogether, thanks for pointing it out.
@@joepnabuurs7886 I apologize. I should have checked with an engine before making that comment. I'm a beginner. Still not used to how the pieces move...
such an awesome video, thank you! i come from american chess and just learning chinese chess since i move to vietnam 7 months ago. i make a lot of these mistakes though i was never very good at american chess, it made it a lot easier to learn the movements in chinese chess.
@kalenlarsen international chess as we know it today was invented in Spain/Italy, at a time when the USA didn't exist, the United States had nothing to do with the invention of it. Please never ever again call it "Am*rican chess" I almost barfed.
I started to play Xiangqi just a few days ago because i am in China now and my father-in-law plays Xiangqi long time and i am an experienced chess player. I have no chance against him, he says he is a moderate player in China. My problems were especially the cannons (and pins of it), the elephants (where you should be careful to put pieces at "their positions") and the knights that could be blocked and then could not defence pieces anymore, my father-in-law use this regularly and then i see my piece(s) is not defenced anymore because of the block.
Also checkmate is easily possible by the cannon at last row and by the rook with the help of the king (you cant strike the rook with your king then).
But i am only busy a few days and played against the computer first and now start playing against other players.
Your video is very useful because most videos about Xiangqi is about the move of the pieces but this is easily learned. Mainly the tactics is more hard to learn and this help, from an experienced player like you, is really helpful, thanks!
Thanks! Stay tuned for more tutorials!
I'm so glad there is a long video and it's also broken up by chapters!
Glad you like it!
11:52 Given that Kg2 exposes the king on the long diagonal, an alternative explanation is that Kg2 exploits a zugzwang (c5 can be countered by Ba3) so Black is compelled to make a weakening move..
Woah, an hour long video! Can't wait to watch it!
Hope you enjoyed it!
I have been trying to learn xiangqi recently. I’ve played chess since I was little. I’m 18 now, am an IM, and have one of my GM norms. So I’m still going to stick primarily to chess. Especially since I’m pretty sure I can at least make GM. But I’ve always been fascinated with any game originating from chaturanga. Shogi, for example, is an absolutely fascinating game to me. I think we can all agree that it’s the most complicated between chess, xiangqi, and itself.
But I’ve been having a bit of a hard time really learning xiangqi. I think the first bit that was difficult for me were pieces like the canon, the horse, and the general. The canon because of its unique capturing ability, which leads to really sneaky pins. The horse because, unlike the knight, it can be blocked, and therefore means that the center isn’t always the best place for it. And the general because, for some reason, I couldn’t get used to the fact that it doesn’t move diagonally and can be used offensively by placing it on an open file.
After I got somewhat used to that, which didn’t really take long, I started having different issues. That’s what I’m dealing with now. I am just having so much trouble breaking away from chess principles. The weird thing is that xiangqi is deceptively similar to chess, but many of the principles are very different. Like, for example, whether or not to develop the major pieces early. It certainly has its similarities, but it is vastly different in some regards.
Joep:
Hi Vyrtil Anyrwen! I am the guy in the video, and a friend at xiangqi.com alerted me to your message.
Your story feels very familiar, although the IM title is a bit out of my reach, haha. Agreed that shogi is the most complicated mathematically. It's great fun, with many sacrifices for the initiative!
Yeah, cannons are tricky, and that's okay because they always will be. My own main hurdles when I started playing were horses and generals, too. As a chess player I learned that a white knight attacking a black knight goes the other way around as well. Not true in xiangqi, and that messed up my calculations a lot. Got used to it after some time.
I have one video on this channel about the opening principles, and *why* they are so different. Perhaps you will find that interesting, too, although I think that you already learned several of the lessons in that one. ruclips.net/video/WCJZj6szAJk/видео.html
I totally agree with you prioritizing chess for now, being so close to the GM title. Good luck with your journey, I am rooting for you to make it!
Highly appreciate for your works ❤
Thanks for the support!
Wooooooowwwwww thanks a lot for the hard work
Does anyone know where the part about why taking the central pawn in the center cannon opening is bad is?
Good Question! You can watch this to know why taking the soldier is bad ruclips.net/video/EI9-hO9KliQ/видео.html
Great video!
36:38
can't you simultaneously protect your left canon with the rook and the right canon with a discovery using the elephant?
That does protect both cannons, but it places the rook itself under attack (black cannon on the same file). That might be the reason I missed the move altogether, thanks for pointing it out.
@@joepnabuurs7886 I apologize. I should have checked with an engine before making that comment. I'm a beginner. Still not used to how the pieces move...
No need to apologise - quite the opposite: feedback like yours keeps me sharp on what to look out for when making videos, hence my thanks!
Thank you so much for everything you do!?!?!!!!!!!!!
Welcome!
such an awesome video, thank you! i come from american chess and just learning chinese chess since i move to vietnam 7 months ago. i make a lot of these mistakes though i was never very good at american chess, it made it a lot easier to learn the movements in chinese chess.
Glad to hear that! Keep going with your Xiangqi journey!
Wth is american chess?
@kalenlarsen international chess as we know it today was invented in Spain/Italy, at a time when the USA didn't exist, the United States had nothing to do with the invention of it. Please never ever again call it "Am*rican chess" I almost barfed.
yea I dont really care about your opinion. everyone in asia calls it chinese chess and american chess. the world doesnt revolve around you. @@Blackand
@Blackand Bro why did you Sensor American