Korean Chess is historically derived from Chinese Chess and uses for all practical purposes the same board and pieces but has different rules. Korean Chess is written in English as "Tjyang-keui" but pronounced as "Changgi." Some modern players of the game write it as "Jangki."
Chinese Chess is considered by some historians of chess the best game there is. Chinese Chess with its fewer pawns (only five per side), it's river constraining the bishops, two cannons, no queen (two guards instead) and rules limiting the King and his guards to a 3x3 grid (the fortress or palace) on a larger board (90 locations) makes it a quicker and more unpredictable game than Western Chess. For adults who have grown bored of Western Chess for its lengthy openings and drawn out end games, Chinese Chess is the best substitute. Of all the popular Chess variations, Chinese Chess is the quickest and most exciting form of Chess.
Korean Chess, although considered by some wilder and more fun than Chinese Chess, takes a little more time due to the fewer restrictions on the Korean Chess pawns, guards, and king and additional restrictions on the Korean cannon. Together these two games are virtually guaranteed to reawake enthusiasm over board strategy games to adults who've become bored with Western Chess.
As with Western Chess, there are multi-player chess variations. There are four known variations of three-player Chinese Chess, three of which are displayed and briefly discussed in D. B. Pritchard's fantastic book, The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants, 1994, Games and Puzzles Publications (see Appendix II for publishers addresses) and two of which are displayed and briefly discussed in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the game of Chinese chess (otherwise known as "Xiangqi" or "Elephant game" or "Co Tuong") maintained by Stephen Leary at al269@yfn.ysu.edu for the Internet usenet news group, rec.games.chinese-chess.
Revisit this Web Page often for it will soon have much more information on multi-player Chinese and Korean Chess! Right now, it has extensive information on two-player Chinese and Korean Chess.
The filenames are dbate017.zip (Chinese Chess information and software), dbate018.zip (Korean Chess information and software), and dbate019.zip (board/piece maker software for either making a real-life Chinese and/or Korean Chess game). The files are: in the "/pub/software/dos/misc/" directory at ftp.ifcss.org and also in the "/pub/chess/Electronic_Magaizines/ShareDebate" directory at caissa.onenet.net. Yes the word "Magaizines" is mis-spelled, you have to type it the exact way and with the exact case (upper and lower case distinctions). The files can be tried to be gotten now but these ftp sites are very busy but here they are:
DBATE018.ZIP (at ifcss)_____ DBATE018.ZIP (at caissa)
DBATE019.ZIP (at ifcss)_____ DBATE019.ZIP (at caissa)
Gollon, John E., 1973. Chess Variations: Ancient, Regional & Modern. 28 South Main Street, Rutland, Vermont 05701: Charles E. Tuttle Co. ISBN: 0-8048-1122-9. Toll Free Order Number: 1-800-526-2778. Other phone number: 802-773-8930. Fax: 802-773-6993. (As of 1995, this book is out of print.)
Lau, H.T., 1985. Chinese Chess. 28 South Main Street, Rutland, Vermont 05701: Charles E. Tuttle Co. ISBN 0-8048-1675-1. Toll Free Order Number: 1-800-526-2778. Other phone number: 802-773-8930. Fax: 802-773-6993. $9.95.
Pritchard, D.B., 1994. The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. PO Box 20, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom: Games and Puzzles Publications. ISBN: 0-9524142-0-1. 21.99 pounds (British price).
Sloan, Sam, 1989. Chinese Chess for Beginners. 76 Bonaventura Drive, San Jose, CA 95134: Ishi Press International. Toll Free Order Number: 1-800-859-2086. Other phone number: 408-944-9900. Fax: 408-944-9110. $12.95.
This is the best page on Chinese Chess there is! Thanks, Peter Sung!
To see a Chinese Chess set, it's normal pieces, and pictures of the most expensive Chinese Chess set you'll ever see, and information on dedicated Chinese Chess computers, check this page that I've authored out!
Ishi Press sells Sam Sloan's book, Chinese Chess for Beginners, as well as Chinese Chess Sets. I recall reading that Ishi Press sells Xian for Windows (it's not mentioned on their web page however) -- this is considered the best Windows-based program to buy for beginners in Chinese Chess. I bought my Xian from a mail order company (Tommy Sager at Tsoft Development, PO Box 3642, Odessa, TX 79760; Phone: 915-366-2168).
You can also buy Xian for Windows and Xian for DOS (great for HP Palmtops!) from Yutopian Enterprises, 1-800-Yutogo-3 or 1-510-659-0138 as well as four other brands of Chinese Chess software (Chinese Chess Master III, Uncle Wang, World Chess Series I: Chinese Chess, and Battle Chess II) from Yutopian. They also sell Chinese Chess sets, including expensive Jade sets.
Two-Player Korean Chess:
For the Internet's best Web Page on Korean Chess, select this
web page!