Beren the 32nd: If you get a chariot for a horse (canyon) and your opponent doesn´t get any compensation in exchange for it, then you get an enough advantage for winning the game.

Matarilevich: Thanks. That sounds pretty definite. But I guess having an extra soldier, elephant or advisor is not normally enough to get a win is it?

Beren the 32nd: King + one soldier against King is a win because the stalemate in XianQi is a win. Chariots, Horses, Canyons, Soldiers and the King too can attack to the opponent king. Elephants and Advisors just can defend.

Lordi: When I first began to play XiangQi I asked the question about enough material to win- and a much more experienced player told me that the basic rule is that to win I would need one more attacking piece than my opponent had defenders. I have found that it works a s a rule of thumb. My king of course is always an attacking piece.

Beren the 32nd:
your post on 29 April 2006,23:49:19
>Can anyone share their experience on this question?
If I win a chariot for a horse or cannon early on in the game, should this normally be enough to win the game(if I play well) or does my opponent often have chances to draw(if he plays well)?

for the first question, the answer is, yes. if you play well you could win. as other player also said so, I do not want to add more.
the second question, the answer also is, yes. but no one said anything about this.
you won material in exchange, you trade your knight or cannon for your opponent's rook. a rook's value is equal to 2 minor pieces,(knight+ cannon or 2 knights or 2 connons), some even said a rook is more than that. lets talk about the "one rook" ending, every one knows a rook vs a complete defendants( 2 elephants + 2 goards) is a draw, if you trade every thing and only with one rook vs a knight or a connon, then it is more than enough to draw.
how about the followings:
1)one rook+ a pawn vs a knight or cannon?
2)one rook vs a knight + 2 elephants or 2 guards?
3)one rook vs a cannon + 2 elephants and two guards?
4)one rook vs a knight+ a elephant + a defendant?

the question from my previous post should be:
a rook + a pawn vs a kngiht or a cannon + complete defendants?

the question from my previous post should be:
1)one rook + a pawn vs a kngiht or a cannon + complete defendants?
3)one rook vs a cannon + 2 elephants or 2 guards?