Understanding the Elephant: A Xiangqi Primer Part 2: Basic Introduction and Basic Kills

In my opinion this is the best book available in English for Xiangqi. Most of the book consists of tactics leading to checkmate, which (after the rules) is the primary thing to learn in Xiangqi as it is in Western Chess. This book doesn't cover a lot of detailed openings, but a beginning player for which this book is intended, the time is better spent learning tactics. Openings can come later as one progresses and is 100% familiar with the rules and final objective of checkmate.

Another good book from Jim Hau Cheng Png. Like his other book Becoming a Xiangqi Assassin Volume 1. This book also deals with the end game. The books is very detail & has a lot of diagrams to help the reader. The first 2 chapters of the book deals with the chess pieces & how they move, along with chess notation. The last part of the book deals with setting up the pieces or as the author calls them basic kills that lead to checkmate. The basic kills are presented according to piece & piece combinations. I would recommend this book for all beginners to the game & anyone else who wants to be a stronger player. My one complaint about the book is that sometimes one game runs into another one. It can be a little confusing at times. It would have been nice if the author had put a little space between them. Don't be confused with the part 2 in the title of the book. Part one deals with the history of Xiangqi. Still over all a very good book. Can't wait for his next book. Hopefully see a book that deals with chess openings & starting out strong.

The second book of the series is a must to begin in a good way your travel in the Xiangqi world. Jim Png explicate the game rules and mating patterns in a really clear way. First time in non-Chinese Xiangqi literature we have a book for absolute beginners which treats exclusively combinations for beginners in a very systematic way. With all the respect for authors of other English books on Xiangqi, I can't remember such systematic work which stress so widely combinations. I think that this book will be a milestone in Xiangqi educational literature for non-Chinese players.

His Understanding the Elephant series is indispensable for studying Xiangqi.

Al fín un libro de Xiangqi sencillo de seguir, que no presupone conocimientos previos, y explica paso a paso cada cosa.Buena opción para introducir a niños a este juego