CBGChinese Board Games GuideRules and annotated records for strategy learners

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Xiangqi / all-levels / RulesXiangqi All-Level Rules: Shape Lesson Setup with Red C8=51. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7This mixed-level Xiangqi shape lesson rule card starts from the rules rather than the move list: setup and win condition define the goal, legal move and turn order define the allowed line, and the notation bridge explains 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6. The short line 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 is included only to make the rule concrete. Board cue: red cannon file 8, black horse file 7, and rook file 8. Rule check: the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints. It does not replace the source rules.Xiangqi / all-levels / RulesXiangqi All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Red C3=51. Red C3=5 | Black H6+7For mixed-level Xiangqi readers opening the final tempo rule card, the page should answer the rules question first: what is the setup, how is the game won, which move is legal, whose turn is next, and what variant boundary changes the record? The short line 1. Red C3=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H7+3 | Black R1=8 is included only to make the rule concrete. Board cue: red cannon file 3, black horse file 6, and rook file 1. Rule check: the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints. It does not replace the source rules.Gomoku / all-levels / RulesGomoku All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Black K81. Black G8 | White J8The mixed-level Gomoku final tempo rule card is built as an encyclopedia checkpoint: setup, win condition, legal move, turn order, notation bridge, common rule trap, and record-reading bridge all point back to open three, broken three, open four, and double-threat timing. The short line 1. Black G8 | White J8; 2. Black I9 | White F8 is included only to make the rule concrete. Board cue: center stones around G8, open-three lane I9-K8, and defensive point J9. Rule check: open three, broken three, open four, and double-threat timing. It does not replace the source rules.Gomoku / all-levels / RulesGomoku All-Level Rules: River Lane Setup with Black J91. Black J8 | White I9A mixed-level Gomoku river lane rule card should read like a compact encyclopedia entry before it reads like a lesson: setup, win condition, legal move, turn order, notation bridge, common rule trap, variant boundary, then record-reading bridge. The short line 1. Black J8 | White I9; 2. Black F8 | White K8 is included only to make the rule concrete. Board cue: center stones around J8, open-three lane F8-J9, and defensive point E8. Rule check: open three, broken three, open four, and double-threat timing. It does not replace the source rules.Chinese Checkers / all-levels / RulesChinese Checkers All-Level Rules: Timing Choice Setup with Red G9xH101. Red C4-G9 | Blue E6-F7The mixed-level Chinese Checkers timing choice rule card is built as an encyclopedia checkpoint: setup, win condition, legal move, turn order, notation bridge, common rule trap, and record-reading bridge all point back to single steps, chained jumps, landing points, and group-route efficiency. The short line 1. Red C4-G9 | Blue E6-F7; 2. Red G9xH10 | Blue F7xB3 is included only to make the rule concrete. Board cue: route ladder from C4 through H10 with a center block at K13. Rule check: single steps, chained jumps, landing points, and group-route efficiency. It does not replace the source rules.Chinese Checkers / all-levels / RulesChinese Checkers All-Level Rules: Safe Reply Setup with Red I11xJ121. Red G9-I11 | Blue C4-E6This mixed-level Chinese Checkers safe reply rule card starts from the rules rather than the move list: setup and win condition define the goal, legal move and turn order define the allowed line, and the notation bridge explains 1. Red G9-I11 | Blue C4-E6; 2. Red I11xJ12 | Blue E6xD5. The short line 1. Red G9-I11 | Blue C4-E6; 2. Red I11xJ12 | Blue E6xD5 is included only to make the rule concrete. Board cue: route ladder from G9 through J12 with a center block at L15. Rule check: single steps, chained jumps, landing points, and group-route efficiency. It does not replace the source rules.

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Xiangqi8 lessonsFirst: Xiangqi All-Level Rules: Shape Lesson Setup with Red C8=5Gomoku8 lessonsFirst: Gomoku All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Black K8Chinese Checkers8 lessonsFirst: Chinese Checkers All-Level Rules: Timing Choice Setup with Red G9xH10Go / Weiqi6 lessonsFirst: Go / Weiqi All-Level Rules: Route Repair Setup with B N17Mahjong Strategy6 lessonsFirst: Mahjong All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Discard 8mCheckers Variants6 lessonsFirst: Checkers Variants All-Level Rules: Corner Pressure Setup with 4x16Traditional Games6 lessonsFirst: Traditional Games All-Level Rules: Corner Pressure Setup with Rat B4xE5

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Xiangqi

8 lessons
XiangqiXiangqi All-Level Rules: Shape Lesson Setup with Red C8=5Shape lesson rules note for Chinese chess: name the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints, replay 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6, and compare the next lesson.XiangqiXiangqi All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Red C3=5Xiangqi learners inspect red cannon file 3, black horse file 6, and rook file 1 in this final tempo rules note before trusting Red C3=5.XiangqiXiangqi Opening Lesson: Red C7=5 Safe ReplyXiangqi guide to safe reply opening pattern: read red cannon file 7, black horse file 6, and rook file 9, follow 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H2+3 | Black R9=8, and separate the rule cue from habit.XiangqiXiangqi Opening Lesson: Red C4=5 Route RepairThis Xiangqi page makes grabbing the river pawn before the cannon file is safe visible by pairing Red C4=5 with Black H8+7 in a route repair opening pattern.XiangqiXiangqi Endgame Lesson: Red C6=5 Corner PressureChinese chess corner pressure endgame pattern: the line opens 1. Red C6=5 | Black H8+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.XiangqiXiangqi Endgame Lesson: Red C2=5 Timing ChoiceReplay Red C2=5 in this Xiangqi timing choice endgame pattern, then use Black H7+7 to see why chasing a central check that leaves the flank rook loose fails.XiangqiXiangqi Strategy Lesson: Red C8=5 River LaneA compact Xiangqi river lane strategy position where Red C8=5 meets Black H7+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.XiangqiXiangqi Strategy Lesson: Red C3=5 Center RouteXiangqi center route strategy position: mixed-level readers replay Red C3=5, test Black H6+7, and catch crossing the river before the supporting piece can answer.

Gomoku

8 lessons
GomokuGomoku All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Black K8A compact Gomoku final tempo rules note where Black K8 meets White J9, with open three, broken three, open four, and double-threat timing as the check point.GomokuGomoku All-Level Rules: River Lane Setup with Black J9Gomoku river lane rules note: mixed-level readers replay Black J9, test White E8, and catch defending a remote threat while the open-four lane stays live.GomokuGomoku Opening Lesson: Black E8 Route RepairRoute repair opening pattern for five in a row: name open three, broken three, open four, and double-threat timing, replay 1. Black I9 | White F8; 2. Black K8 | White J9, and compare the next lesson.GomokuGomoku Opening Lesson: Black K9 Shape LessonGomoku learners inspect center stones around F8, open-three lane J9-K9, and defensive point L8 in this shape lesson opening pattern before trusting Black K9.GomokuGomoku Endgame Lesson: Black L8 Timing ChoiceGomoku guide to timing choice endgame pattern: read center stones around K8, open-three lane E8-L8, and defensive point H8, follow 1. Black K8 | White J9; 2. Black E8 | White K9, and separate the rule cue from habit.GomokuGomoku Endgame Lesson: Black H8 Safe ReplyThis Gomoku page makes blocking the visible four while ignoring the open three behind it visible by pairing Black H8 with White H9 in a safe reply endgame pattern.GomokuGomoku Strategy Lesson: Black H9 Center RouteFive in a row center route strategy position: the line opens 1. Black E8 | White K9; 2. Black L8 | White H8 and turns on open three, broken three, open four, and double-threat timing.GomokuGomoku Strategy Lesson: Black I8 Corner PressureReplay Black I8 in this Gomoku corner pressure strategy position, then use White G8 to see why making a loose four that gives White a single clean block fails.

Chinese Checkers

8 lessons
Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers All-Level Rules: Timing Choice Setup with Red G9xH10Race and jump strategy timing choice rules note: the line opens 1. Red C4-G9 | Blue E6-F7; 2. Red G9xH10 | Blue F7xB3 and turns on single steps, chained jumps, landing points, and group-route efficiency.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers All-Level Rules: Safe Reply Setup with Red I11xJ12Replay Red I11xJ12 in this Chinese Checkers safe reply rules note, then use Blue E6xD5 to see why taking a long jump that closes the ladder for the next piece fails.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers Opening Lesson: Red H10xK13 Center RouteA compact Chinese Checkers center route opening pattern where Red H10xK13 meets Blue C4xF7, with single steps, chained jumps, landing points, and group-route efficiency as the check point.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers Opening Lesson: Red J12xL15 Corner PressureChinese Checkers corner pressure opening pattern: mixed-level readers replay Red J12xL15, test Blue G9xE6, and catch using a hop chain before checking where the last landing point sits.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers Endgame Lesson: Red K13xA1 Final TempoFinal tempo endgame pattern for race and jump strategy: name single steps, chained jumps, landing points, and group-route efficiency, replay 1. Red J12-K13 | Blue H10-I11; 2. Red K13xA1 | Blue I11xC4, and compare the next lesson.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers Endgame Lesson: Red L15xB3 River LaneChinese Checkers learners inspect route ladder from K13 through B3 with a center block at F7 in this river lane endgame pattern before trusting Red L15xB3.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers Strategy Lesson: Red A1xD5 Route RepairChinese Checkers guide to route repair strategy position: read route ladder from L15 through D5 with a center block at E6, follow 1. Red L15-A1 | Blue K13-J12; 2. Red A1xD5 | Blue J12xI11, and separate the rule cue from habit.Chinese CheckersChinese Checkers Strategy Lesson: Red B3xF7 Shape LessonThis Chinese Checkers page makes racing one checker while the home triangle remains jammed visible by pairing Red B3xF7 with Blue K13xH10 in a shape lesson strategy position.

Go / Weiqi

6 lessons
Go / WeiqiGo / Weiqi All-Level Rules: Route Repair Setup with B N17Go / Weiqi guide to route repair rules note: read corner approach at C10, pincer at J10, and cut point near G17, follow 1. B C10 | W K16; 2. B N17 | W J10, and separate the rule cue from habit.Go / WeiqiGo / Weiqi All-Level Rules: Shape Lesson Setup with B J10This Go / Weiqi page makes playing a forcing-looking peep before checking connection shape visible by pairing B J10 with W G17 in a shape lesson rules note.Go / WeiqiGo / Weiqi Opening Lesson: B G17 Timing ChoiceTerritory strategy timing choice opening pattern: the line opens 1. B N17 | W J10; 2. B G17 | W D4 and turns on liberty count, connection, and sente/gote order.Go / WeiqiGo / Weiqi Opening Lesson: B D4 Safe ReplyReplay B D4 in this Go / Weiqi safe reply opening pattern, then use W Q16 to see why cutting before counting liberties fails.Go / WeiqiGo / Weiqi Endgame Lesson: B Q16 Center RouteA compact Go / Weiqi center route endgame pattern where B Q16 meets W C6, with liberty count, connection, and sente/gote order as the check point.Go / WeiqiGo / Weiqi Endgame Lesson: B C6 Corner PressureGo / Weiqi corner pressure endgame pattern: mixed-level readers replay B C6, test W R14, and catch treating sente as automatic after the opponent has already stabilized.

Mahjong Strategy

6 lessons
Mahjong StrategyMahjong All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Discard 8mFinal tempo rules note for tile hand-building: name draw, discard, sequence, pair, visible discard, and safety information, replay 1. Draw 2p, discard 8m; 2. Left discards 6m, draw 4m, and compare the next lesson.Mahjong StrategyMahjong All-Level Rules: River Lane Setup with Discard Green DragonMahjong Strategy learners inspect hand blocks around East-6m, isolated Green Dragon, and visible discard 4m in this river lane rules note before trusting discard Green Dragon.Mahjong StrategyMahjong Opening Lesson: Discard West Route RepairMahjong Strategy guide to route repair opening pattern: read hand blocks around 5s-7p, isolated West, and visible discard 1m, follow 1. Draw 6p, discard West; 2. Left discards 1m, draw 6s, and separate the rule cue from habit.Mahjong StrategyMahjong Opening Lesson: Discard 5s Shape LessonThis Mahjong Strategy page makes discarding Green Dragon before checking what the table has revealed visible by pairing discard 5s with opponent calls East in a shape lesson opening pattern.Mahjong StrategyMahjong Endgame Lesson: Discard 9p Timing ChoiceTile hand-building timing choice endgame pattern: the line opens 1. Draw 5m, discard 9p; 2. Left discards 2s, draw 3p and turns on draw, discard, sequence, pair, visible discard, and safety information.Mahjong StrategyMahjong Endgame Lesson: Discard 7m Safe ReplyReplay discard 7m in this Mahjong Strategy safe reply endgame pattern, then use opponent calls 7p to see why discarding 5s before checking what the table has revealed fails.

Checkers Variants

6 lessons
Checkers VariantsCheckers Variants All-Level Rules: Corner Pressure Setup with 4x16A compact Checkers Variants corner pressure rules note where 4x16 meets 12x28, with diagonal movement, mandatory captures, multi-jumps, promotion, and king mobility as the check point.Checkers VariantsCheckers Variants All-Level Rules: Timing Choice Setup with 13x25Checkers Variants timing choice rules note: mixed-level readers replay 13x25, test 21x5, and catch counting the first jump but not the return capture.Checkers VariantsCheckers Variants Opening Lesson: 26x6 River LaneRiver lane opening pattern for draughts-style variants: name diagonal movement, mandatory captures, multi-jumps, promotion, and king mobility, replay 1. 22-26 3-31; 2. 18-27 6-2, and compare the next lesson.Checkers VariantsCheckers Variants Opening Lesson: 27x7 Center RouteCheckers Variants learners inspect forced-capture lane 27x7, back-rank guard 32, and promotion square 23 in this center route opening pattern before trusting 27x7.Checkers VariantsCheckers Variants Endgame Lesson: 16x28 Shape LessonCheckers Variants guide to shape lesson endgame pattern: read forced-capture lane 16x28, back-rank guard 21, and promotion square 12, follow 1. 12-16 25-21; 2. 8-17 28-24, and separate the rule cue from habit.Checkers VariantsCheckers Variants Endgame Lesson: 17x29 Final TempoThis Checkers Variants page makes promoting a piece while leaving a mandatory capture behind visible by pairing 17x29 with 25x9 in a final tempo endgame pattern.

Traditional Games

6 lessons
Traditional Chinese Board GamesTraditional Games All-Level Rules: Corner Pressure Setup with Rat B4xE5Family strategy games corner pressure rules note: the line opens 1. Jungle Rat A4-B4 | Dog K8-J8; 2. Cat C4-D5 | Wolf J8-I7 and turns on piece rank, river movement, trap squares, camp support, and den entry.Traditional Chinese Board GamesTraditional Games All-Level Rules: Timing Choice Setup with Rat C4xF6Replay Rat C4xF6 in this Traditional Chinese Board Games timing choice rules note, then use Tiger J8-H7 to see why treating a capture as progress when camp support is the real route fails.Traditional Chinese Board GamesTraditional Games Opening Lesson: Rat D5xG6 River LaneA compact Traditional Chinese Board Games river lane opening pattern where Rat D5xG6 meets Tiger K8-I7, with piece rank, river movement, trap squares, camp support, and den entry as the check point.Traditional Chinese Board GamesTraditional Games Opening Lesson: Rat E5xH7 Center RouteTraditional Chinese Board Games center route opening pattern: mixed-level readers replay Rat E5xH7, test Tiger A3-J8, and catch valuing a stronger animal before checking trap and den rules.Traditional Chinese Board GamesTraditional Games Endgame Lesson: Rat F6xI7 Shape LessonShape lesson endgame pattern for family strategy games: name piece rank, river movement, trap squares, camp support, and den entry, replay 1. Jungle Rat E5-F6 | Dog C4-B4; 2. Cat G6-H7 | Wolf B4-A4, and compare the next lesson.Traditional Chinese Board GamesTraditional Games Endgame Lesson: Rat G6xJ8 Final TempoTraditional Chinese Board Games learners inspect camp route F6-J8, trap square near A3, and den approach E5 in this final tempo endgame pattern before trusting Rat G6xJ8.