Single Comment

Michael Howe may have a point about promotion. I did consider promotion to one, or even a chioce of either, of the Shogi generals (to preserve the unpromoted Pawn's capturing move, of all things!), but I was trying to limit the modification to Xiang Qi promotion to that needed for a piece that does not get weaker and weaker as it moves further into enemy territory. Rooks and Bishops are just as strong WITHIN enemy ranks once they get there as they are WITHIN their own, they just have difficulty doing the actual crossing. Incidentally that includes coming back as well, in case it was unclear. A White Bishop on rank 5 cannot retreat in one move, but can block a Black Rook from retreating. Perhaps I should also have mentioned that a Bishop leaving a bank always puts the bridge back first, so that Rooks can move unimpeded once the Bishop has gone. This also means that if one army loses both Bishops the enemy Rooks can then move exactly as in FIDE Chess.