The Ancient Game of ...

The unknown game of question is just as imagined at first. It is another version of Chess - a Chinese version to be exact. This Chinese Chess was found all the way in a Taipei airport, because Chinese Chess is very popular in Taiwan. I'll try my best to break this game down for you. Most of the instructions are in Chinese, but I'll see what I can manage. 

Chinese Chess or 象棋(xiangqi) is called Chess, but plays nothing like American Chess (or what Americans know as Chess). This game is played on a 9x10 rectangular board. Each player starts the game with: 1 General, 2 Guards, 2 Elephants, 2 Horses, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, and 5 Soldiers.The board is divided right down the middle by a column, which is referred to as "the River," dividing the two forces. This river cannot be ignored because some pieces cannot even travel through the ferocious river. The soldiers, who traverse the river, bulk up and get stronger. The squares that are divided by diagonal lines are known as "the palace." As you can also see, the pieces do not rest in the center of each square, but on the intersection of the lines. The pieces will use their specialized movement to jump onto other pieces' intersections - to capture them - and try to checkmate or stalemate the other general. Let's start at the front lines and work our way back. 

The Soldiers (兵): The soldiers are placed on the front line. Before crossing the river, the soldiers can only march forward one space. After crossing the river, the movement improves to horizontal movement as well. They still can only move one space at a time, but they cannot "retreat" (go backwards vertically) or move vertically. Once the soldier reaches the last row, it does not promote. It is stuck to move only horizontally.

The Cannons (炮): The cannons are placed on the intersection behind the soldiers in between the outermost units. Cannons can move any amount of intersections both horizontally and vertically, but not horizontally. In order for them to capture, they do not just land on other pieces, but they first must jump over one other unit to capture. This jumped piece could even be an ally unit. It is as if the cannon was actually a catapult launching over the unit and landing on the target. If there are two units on the other side of the jumped unit, the first unit approached gets captured.

The General (將, or 帥): The general is located at the center of the power pieces lined up in the back. He is within the "palace." This piece is the main piece of the game. Similar to "international" chess, this piece can only more one intersection in any direction except diagonal, and cannot leave his "palace." 

At the start of the game, you will notice that the opposing generals stand opposite each other on the board with two pieces in between them. This lack of sight must be maintained. If the player causes these generals to be opposite of each other without a piece in between - called "meet" - then that player loses the game immediately.

Let's look at the rest of the supporting pieces in the back row. 

The Guards (卫士):  The guards start on both sides of the general at the beginning of the game. The guards can move only one intersection vertically, (like the general) never leaving the "palace."

The Elephants (想 or 家): The elephants are large animals that are placed right outside the palace. They can move two spaces horizontally, but they cannot cross the river. If there is a unit is in between its movement, it cannot go through or over this unit - this is considered to be blocked.

The Horses (吗): The Horses move in a combined method. First, the knight moves either one space horizontally or vertically, then one space diagonally. If there is a unit in the orthogonal space, the horse is blocked before being able to make its diagonal movement.

The Chariots (車): The Chariots moves like a rook or castle in "international" chess. It can move any number of spaces vertically or horizontally.

You're almost ready for your first game. There are a few more rules you'll need to know.

• The red player always goes first. 
• Perpetual check is not allowed. A player cannot check the opponent's general more than 3 times in a row with the same piece and the same position. Same thing goes for perpetual chasing. If a player attacks the same enemy piece that is not protected by another enemy piece, moving back and forth between the same two points indefinitely, this too is not allowed. The player causing this situation must cease and make another move.
• If neither side can force a checkmate or stalemate, the game ends in a draw. 

The reason I spotted this in Taipei is because this game is still popular with the older crowd. This game could be seen played on the street for hours with the winner maintaining his throne until knocked off. I'm not really good at any chess myself, but this one is definitely one to try. What do you think? Can you figure out how to manipulate your army to victory? Leave me a comment on what you think of the game.

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