Xiangqi Basic Kills

The objective of Xiangqi game is to put opponent’s king under attack from which
escape is impossible (checkmate) or in which the king is not in check but cannot
move except into check (stalemate). The game ends, and that opponent loses. In
order to checkmate, we must learn the various basic kills checkmate tactics.

Face To Face Laughing Checkmate

“Both kings are not allowed to face each other in the same file if there is no
intervening piece in between” is a special Xiangqi rule. It is an illegal move if the
player would like to move his king in a result facing opponent’s king in the same file
without any intervening piece in between. Face to face laughing checkmate tactic
uses this rule to checkmate opponent’s king.

Diagram 103 Diagram 104

Diagram 103- This diagram shows the most basic face to face laughing checkmate
method. It is often that the Red’s king is stayed on center file and checkmate with the
chariot. Black’s king is not allowed to play K6=5 because of the special rule as
mentioned earlier. Red wins.

Diagram 104- Red checkmates with his cannon by using the rule that both kings are
not allowed facing each other in the same file if there is no intervening piece in
between.

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