description Co Tuong Overview
Known in Vietnamese as cờ tướng, this is the Vietnamese form of xiangqi, the two-player game commonly called Chinese chess in English. Play takes place on the intersections of a nine-by-ten grid divided by a river. Each side begins with 16 pieces, including a general restricted to a palace. The objective is to checkmate the opposing general, making the protection and attack of that piece central to the game.
The river, palace, and use of intersections give the board a structure visibly different from the squares of international chess. Those features also matter strategically, since the board's marked areas are part of the movement rules rather than decoration. Played both recreationally and competitively in Vietnam, cờ tướng suits people interested in regional chess traditions or in a strategy game with a distinct spatial layout. Its Vietnamese identity reflects an established local culture of playing the wider xiangqi game.
help Co Tuong FAQ
What does the Co Tuong board look like?
Co Tuong is played on a 9-by-10 grid of intersections with a river dividing the two sides. Each player begins with 16 pieces.
How does the cannon move and capture in Co Tuong?
A cannon moves like a rook when it is not capturing. To capture, it must jump over exactly one intervening piece before landing on an enemy piece.
What does the river change in Co Tuong?
The river separates the two armies and affects several pieces' movement. An elephant cannot cross it, while a soldier gains the ability to move sideways after crossing.
What is the palace rule in Co Tuong?
The general and advisors must remain inside their respective three-by-three palaces. The opposing generals also cannot face each other directly along an open file, a rule often called the flying general rule.
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