From: Sam Sloan <sloan <at> ISHIPRESS <dot> COM>
Date: 12 apr 2000
Subject: Re: A funny thing happened in Cincinnati

At 06:39 PM 4/12/00 +0800, Leung Kai Wan wrote:
>I think Sam is probably talking about the rule book Asian Xiangqi Rules.
>The English edition is available online at
>http://txa.ipoline.com/rule/asia/asiarule.htm with numerous illustrations
>against various tricky situations.  This rule dominates in all major
>international xiangqi competitions.
>
>The one in Mainland China considers whether subsequent captures/exchanges
>give rise to material gains to either side.  It is far more complicated
>and is rarely applied outside China.
>
>Kai Wan Leung
>Hong Kong, China

Thank you very much for pointing this out. Yes, this is the same book. Even
the author is the same. Lee JiHai is obviously the same person as Lee Chi Hoi.

The book contains 104 diagrams showing detailed explanations of the draw rule.

I was not aware that this book has been translated into English and put
online. This solves a big problem I have had in explaining the very
complicated draw rule in Chinese chess.

Now, if only someone can provide a detailed explanation of the draw rule in
Thai Chess, life will be complete.

(In Thai chess there is a formula which determines in how many moves one
much mate. For example, in the endgame king and two rooks vs. king only,
the player with the two rooks must mate within four moves, which is often
impossible. Otherwise, the game is a draw.)

Sam Sloan