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Discover the secrets of playing Cờ Gánh (Vietnamese traditional checkerboard) in the following article by FPT Shop. Cờ Gánh, a beloved folk game in Vietnam, has been cherished by many generations. This game holds a special place in the hearts of our ancestors and parents. Let's explore how to play this game together.

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21 February, 2024

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Another name for Cờ gánh is Cờ chém and it is a strategic game that has been popular in Vietnam. Let’s find out how to play Cờ gánh with FPT Shop.

What is Cờ gánh? The origin of Cờ gánh

Cờ Gánh, also known as Cờ chém, is a very interesting strategic game that requires thinking, skills, and creativity. The game originated from Quang Nam province and was created based on the game of chess and Chinese chess.

However, unlike other chess games, Cờ gánh does not have different levels of pieces such as rook, king, pawn, queen, etc. Instead, the player plays as the only general. The people of Quang Nam simplified the game of Cờ gánh and combined it with other chess games to create a unique game for their own nation.

Just like other games, Cờ gánh was initially played with simple and easily accessible materials such as pebbles, seashells. Over time, Cờ gánh has become popular and has developed into online games that are loved by many young people.

The number of players in the game is 2
Preparation time for the game is less than 1 minute

What are the items in the Cờ gánh set?

Chessboard

The chessboard is a flat surface divided into 25 squares by a 4×4 square grid. The horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines on the chessboard are used to determine the movements of the pieces. When starting the game, you need to arrange the pieces in the outer squares of the chessboard.

Pieces

The Cờ gánh pieces consist of 16 pieces and are divided into 2 colors (or based on their shapes and characteristics). Each color represents 8 pieces for 2 players. When starting the game, the pieces are placed as follows:

Each side places a piece in the third row, far left of the chessboard.
Then each person places two pieces at the two points in the far left of the second row.
And each player places the remaining five pieces at the five intersection points of their last row of the chessboard.

Simple rules of playing Cờ gánh

When entering the game, each player will have 8 pieces and the pieces will have different colors or identification from the opponent’s pieces. Each player will move the pieces to one of the adjacent intersections on the square chessboard. Movement can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. The important thing is that the intersections must be empty, meaning there are no other pieces on them.

The goal of the game is to change the color or identification of the opponent’s pieces to match your own color or identification. And to make them no longer have any pieces to move.

When the game ends and one of the players has no more pieces to move, they will win and have 16 pieces in their hands. These are some of the cases you will encounter while playing Cờ gánh.

Gánh

When you move one of their pieces to the position between two pieces of the opponent and these two pieces of the opponent are on both sides, the opponent’s pieces in these positions are considered “Gánh” (a special term in Cờ gánh). And then, the color or other features of the opponent’s pieces will be changed.

Players need to be proactive and make moves by moving their pieces between the opponent’s pieces. And they cannot perform a Gánh move while the opponent is making their move.

Vây

If your piece surrounds all the opponent’s pieces and makes it impossible for their piece to move, it is considered a “Vây” (meaning there are no empty squares surrounding the piece). After that, the color or other features of the opponent’s piece will be changed to indicate that it belongs to the player who made this move.

Then the opponent’s piece will be changed with its color or other features to show that it belongs to the player who made this move.

Mở (Open Position)

When you want to Gánh the opponent’s piece, you have the ability to make a higher-level move and can Gánh 4 or 6 pieces of the opponent at the same time. This move is usually called “Chầu 4” or “Chầu 6”.

In other cases, you can create a chess position to make the opponent’s piece move in the middle of the chessboard and you can make Gánh of their pieces. The goal of this move is to make a “Chầu 4” or “Chầu 6” with the opponent’s piece or to create further moves for other pieces. This move is called “Open Position”.

When a player creates an open position to actively make the opponent Gánh their pieces, when it is the opponent’s turn, they will have to make the Gánh move as set by the other player.

Conclusion

The above article by FPT Shop has provided you with information about how to play Cờ gánh. Hope you have exciting games and full of laughter.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some key strategies to keep in mind: control the center of the board, develop your pieces early, castle early to protect your king, aim for checkmate with a strong queen and rook attack, create pawn chains to control squares, and finally, always be mindful of your opponent’s moves and counter-attacks.

Controlling the center gives you more options for attacking and defending. It also allows your pieces to move more freely and gives you a better position to plan your next moves.

Get your knights and bishops out early, preferably within the first few moves. These pieces are powerful and can control more squares, so developing them quickly will give you an advantage. Also, try to avoid moving the same piece multiple times during the opening; focus on getting all your pieces into play.

Castling is a crucial move as it protects your king and develops your rook at the same time. Ideally, you should castle within the first 10 moves to ensure your king’s safety. It also helps to connect your rooks, so they can support each other during attacks.

The queen is the most powerful piece on the board, so use her to control key squares and support your pawns. Work towards checkmating your opponent’s king by coordinating attacks with your queen and rook. Together, they are a formidable force.

Pawn chains are a series of pawns that protect and support each other. They help you control important squares and can be used to launch attacks or defend your position. A well-constructed pawn chain can give you a strategic advantage and limit your opponent’s options.

Always keep an eye on your opponent’s piece development and their potential threats. Look for patterns and try to anticipate their next moves. Defend against attacks by counter-attacking or by moving your pieces to safer squares. It’s a game of strategy and adaptability.