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A different game, played with Xiangqi pieces. Played on the squares of half a Xiangqi board but using all the pieces. (8x4, Cells: 32) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

Anonymous wrote on Fri, Dec 20, 2002 01:03 AM UTC:

This game is a very popular form called An-Qi (or covered) chess. It is
very popular version of the game. 

There is also a totally different way of playing this covered chess in
which the pieces themselves actually move and capture like in regular
Chinese Chess. 

1. The general moves one space up, down or sideways and not diagonally.
Generals may face each other. When the general is checkmated, the game is
over.

2. The two mandarins move one space diagonally.

3. The elephants may move one or two spaces diagonally and may jump over
the intervening piece, be in opponent or yours, covered or uncovered
piece. 

4. The horses move the same way. It is crippled by a piece the same way as
in Chinese Chess. However, only opponent pieces may cripple your horse.
Covered pieces count as empty squares so a horse may jump over them.

5. The chariots move exactly the same way.

6. The cannons move one or two spaces forward, back or sideways. It
captures by jumping over a screen and taking the enemy piece beyond it.
Covered pieces count as empty spaces.

7. The soldiers move like the king.

There is also a version allowing the rank just across the river as open to
be able to move there. You can move your pieces to any spot just like
crossing the river. However, the general, mandarins and soldiers may not
move across the river. Only one rank directly across the river can be used
and any major piece may move there. 

Stalemate is a victory for the stalemated general.