Board Game Tutorials for Beginners

Essential rules

1. Rooks move straight, horses in an L, elephants diagonally by two, and cannons capture over one screen.
2. Generals stay inside their palaces and may not face each other on an open file.
3. A move may not leave your general under attack; every check must be answered immediately.

General

Moves one orthogonal step inside the palace; the two generals may not face on an open file.

Advisor

Moves one diagonal step inside the palace and protects the general.

Elephant

Moves two points diagonally, cannot cross the river, and is blocked at the midpoint.

Horse

Moves in an L; an occupied adjacent orthogonal point blocks that direction.

Rook

Moves any distance orthogonally but cannot pass through another piece.

Cannon

Moves like a rook when quiet; captures only by jumping exactly one screen.

Soldier

Moves forward before crossing; afterwards it may also move sideways, never backward.

Essential rules

1. All pieces begin face down; the first revealed color determines your side.
2. Pieces capture equal or lower ranks. Soldiers can capture generals, but generals cannot capture soldiers.
3. Cannons ignore rank but must jump over exactly one piece to capture.

Essential rules

1. Players alternate on empty intersections of a 15×15 board; placed stones never move.
2. This site uses freestyle Gomoku without forbidden moves for Black. A line of five or more wins.
3. An open three can grow from either end and is more valuable than a line with only one exit.

Essential rules

1. Players reveal pieces in turn until different colors establish the sides. Only reveals are allowed before then.
2. Bombs trade with any piece. Mines do not move and are normally removed only by engineers.
3. Engineers can turn along railways. Remove every enemy mine before capturing the enemy flag.

Essential rules

1. Rooks move straight, bishops diagonally, queens combine both, and knights jump in an L.
2. A check must be answered, and the king may never move onto an attacked square.
3. Castling protects the king and activates a rook, but the king may not cross an attacked square.

Essential rules

1. Higher ranks usually capture equal or lower ranks, but the rat can capture the elephant.
2. Rats enter rivers. Lions and tigers jump across unless a rat blocks the water.
3. An animal in an opposing trap temporarily loses its rank and can be captured by any enemy.

Essential rules

1. Men move diagonally forward but may capture forward or backward in a multi-jump.
2. Capturing is mandatory; when routes differ, choose one that captures the greatest number of pieces.
3. A man reaching the last row becomes a king that moves and captures over long diagonals.