There is such a rule (although I don't find it written down ). If there are 50 moves played without taking a piece the game should (can, must???) be declared draw.
Pythagoras: Sorry Pythagoras, but I think you are not totally right. E.g. because of the cannons it's an everyday's situation to answer a check with a check. The situation mangue mentioned is a draw, as both players violate the rules and it doesn't matter which player began:
Another thing: At IYT they programmed, that its forbidden to check more than three times by moving the same piece, which is complete nonse, because you often need to give some hidden checks (with cannon and horse eg.), where you take several opponents pieces with every hidden check. So the important point is, if there is a notable progress in the position or not...
If I find the time this evening I will write down the repetition rules as far as I know them.
In Chinese Chess does not exist a strict rule like "3-time repetition is draw (or loss)". In a tournament the judge will call the players to alter their moves and only if they don't he will judge the game a loss or a draw. A game would be draw e.g. if both players play "allowed" moves, e.g. such with which they don't attack any pieces.
Fencer: I don't know, if it's fair to say something about an ongoing game, but as it doesn't seem to be a tournament game...: Yes you should go on playing. Have in mind, that One Rook vs. Full Defence (properly setup, like at the moment in this game) would be draw, but vs. an uncomplete defence a rook always wins.
Rook
is the most valuable piece. Its worth more than even two cannons, a cannon and a horse or two horses. Valuation may differ, if you give a rook for two very active minor pieces.
Cannon and Horse are the minor pieces and are more or less equal in strength, but their strength differs during the game. In the opening and middle game the cannon is the stronger piece, but in the endgame it becomes weaker because there are less piece on the board to support the cannon. In the endgame a horse is the stronger attacker, while a cannon in many cases is the better defender. Combination of horse and cannon is stronger than two cannons or two horses.
Pawn
Is usually not even worth a tempo in the opening, but may easily win a game in the endgame. Approaching the palast the pawn becomes stronger and stronger and loses strength on the base line.
If you lose your guards, your defence becomes very weak against rooks and horses, while a lack of elephants makes it weak against cannons. **This last quote in very general terms, of course it always depends on the position.**
Hi Fencer,
did you see my message at the Bug Tracker section?
http://brainking.com/en/ReadBug?bgi=528
It's a small change, but senseful, because otherwise you would have invented another notation system, which nobody else uses.
Red is lost. Full defence in most cases is draw vs. one rook, but if one defender is gone the defending player is lost. So in your example black can sacrife a rook for any defender and will win the game. Just try it out at home or try rook vs. two guards at http://www.stosszahn-franken.de/xq-kurs/uebung-lw2.html