I like Chinese Chess or Xiangqi as it is known in Chinese.
I have played the game ever since I was a kid and I have taught the game to my kids.
Some time ago, IĀ began visiting Hurstville Square to watch a group of guys play Chinese Chess. I have to admit some of them are damn good and I have learnt a lot just by watching them play.
The following is a Google map snippet which shows where Hurstville Square is. Yes, I know, I am still trying to learn how to put markers on Google Maps. (Anybody want to volunteer to write a nice easy how-to article on it?)
The Hurstville Chinese Chess Group
When I got there last weekend, it was a full house.
These guys are serious players and will play almost every day of the week, come rain, hail or shine.
Generally, the bystanders will offer advice on moves and things can get pretty heated as the proposed moves are argued over.
Sometimes, they would hypothesize up to 4 moves ahead.
I have noticed that the arguments are sometimes also used to confuse bystanders.
Peter Chui – one of the regulars
What I mean is that during a “discussion” about a move and its subsequent counter moves, pieces may be moved around the board and then “accidentally” returned to different starting positions š
Some times, bystanders will notice and other times they don’t.
When I see these “accidents”, I don’t say anything because I have noticed that such “accidents” tend to occur between stronger players versus weaker players.
The weaker player is usually “allowed” the “accident”.
Whose move?
It is interesting to be able to circulate amongst the various tables and observe different styles of playing.
Time to go
Last table still playing
But all good things come to an end and eventually the players need to go home š
This is today’s last table playing.
The guy on the left in the baseball cap is a damn good player – probably the best.
Danny, who is facing the camera, is another good player, he is the Mr Cool amongst the players.
Danny also plays the strong silent type – I dunno why cos there are no females there š
Red to move
And yupe, it’s red to move š
Playing Chinese Chess just like in the real battle field,need a lot of thinking and following the steps carefully. May be somebody can organiize some competition for the groups, Malaysian Chinese organize tornaments for the public each year.
Well, there are visitors from other suburbs who travel to Hurstvile to play.
So, I think they organise themselves.