VDB Chinese Chess is a software program designed for playing Chinese chess.
If you want to download and install the program, you need to ensure that all the necessary components are present. These include g++, xaw3d (or xaw), Standard Template Library, xpm, and pthread. The installation process is simple and only requires you to download and unzip the software in the directory of your choice. The program doesn't have a separate installation directory. After successful installation, the Rules of Chinese Chess section will give you all the information you need to start playing.
In Chinese chess, you cannot exchange your pawn for any other piece when you reach the end of the board. There is no rochade and moving “en passant,” and the game ends when you are stalemate. If both kings are on the same column, one piece must exist between them. If the same moves get repeated three times, you must move differently the next time. The pieces are not black or white in Chinese Chess; they are red and black. Red moves first.
There are several important locations on the board that you should know, including the two palaces, each with its own diagonal lines, and the river, located in the middle of the board. Chinese chess has various pieces, and each moves differently. The King, for example, can only move one field forward or to the side, not diagonal, and must remain inside the palace. On the other hand, the Pawn moves one field forward, and if beyond the river, it can also move sideways. The Rock can move one or various fields to the side, forward, or backward but not diagonally. The Cannon moves one or more fields to the side, forward, or backward but not diagonally and must always jump over one piece. The Horse moves one field straight and one field diagonal but cannot move over another piece, while the Elephant moves exactly two fields diagonally and cannot move over the river. Finally, the Mandarin moves one field diagonally and must remain inside the palace.
In this release, VDB Chinese Chess has fixed some defects in the game strategy that make it more enjoyable to play.
Version 1.10: N/A