VaoQi

VaoQi is a XiangQi variant that features Vao.

Like in XiangQi, there are palaces which are the 2 zones centred at the 1st to 3rd and 8th to 10th ranks of the board, each 3 points by 3 points.

Dividing the 2 opposing sides, between the 5th and 6th ranks, is the "river".

Setup

files=9 ranks=10 promoZone=1 promoChoice=PRFVCMH graphicsDir=/graphics.dir/alfaerieSVG/ squareSize=52 graphicsType=svg lightShade= darkShade= borders=0 background=/play/pbm/backgrounds/chinese-blue-green.png asian pawn:P:fWbmpafmpafmpafmpafmpabmpafmpafmpafmpafsW:chinesepawn:a4,c4,e4,g4,i4,,a7,c7,e7,g7,i7 rook:R:R:rook:a1,i1,,a10,i10 ferz:F:F:ferz:d1,f1,,d10,f10 morph=//////!//..!...! vao:V:mBcpB:vao:e2,e3,,e8,e9 cannon:C:mRcpR:cannon:b3,h3,,b8,h8 minister:M:nA:minister:c1,g1,,c10,g10 morph=///! horse:H:afsW:horse:b1,h1,,b10,h10 king:K:kRsmpafmpafmpafmpabmpafmpafWbWoabafWmpafoabmpafafW:king:e1,,e10

First rank

a1, i1 Rook
b1, h1 Mao
c1, g1 Minister
d1, f1 Advisor
e1 General

Second rank

e2 Vao

Third rank

b3, h3 Cannon
e3 Vao

Fourth rank

a4, c4, e4, g4, i4 Soldier

Pieces

Rook

Red Rook Black Rook

The ROOK moves exactly the same as the Rook in Chess. It moves in a straight line horizontally or vertically across any number of empty spaces, stopping either on an empty space or the first space it comes to that is occupied by one of the opponent's pieces. It may not pass over occupied spaces.

Mao

Red Knight Black Knight

The Mao is a Knight restricted to making its move in 2 steps, the 1st orthogonal {0,1} the 2nd diagonal {1,1}.

Minister

Red Elephant Black Elephant

The Minister moves 2 spaces in the same diagonal direction. Like the Mao, it may not leap over occupied spaces. So if the 1st step of its move is over an occupied space, it is blocked and may not make that move. Additionally, Ministers are confined to their own side of the river.

Advisor

Red Guard Black Guard

The Advisor moves 1 space diagonally. It may never leave the palace.

General

Red King Black King

The General moves 1 space orthogonally within the confines of the palace. The Generals can capture the opposing General that's a Rook move away. You win if you capture the opposing General.

Cannon

Red Cannon Black Cannon

The Cannon travels as rook, captures by hops along rook lines over a piece, from any distance before to any distance beyond.

Vao

Red Vao Black Vao Red Vao

The Vao travels as bishop, captures by hops along bishop lines over a piece, from any distance before to any distance beyond.

Soldier

Red Pawn Black Pawn

The Soldier moves 1 space vertically forward. Upon crossing the river, it gains the additional ability to move 1 space horizontally.

Modern XiangQi

This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.

By HaruN Y.

Last revised by HaruN Y.

Web page created: 2024-04-06. Web page last updated: 2024-08-22

Comments

VaoQi.

XiangQi with Vaos. (9x10, Cells: 90)

Aurelian Florea wrote on Wed, Oct 30 07:19 AM EDT in reply to HaruN Y from 06:19 AM:

That actually, too.

💡📝HaruN Y wrote on Wed, Oct 30 06:19 AM EDT in reply to Aurelian Florea from 05:54 AM:

~~I like adding things that are not needed.~~

Isn't it because the defensive pieces only move diagonally that they are bad at defending against non-orthogonal attacks?

Aurelian Florea wrote on Wed, Oct 30 05:54 AM EDT:

The problem with adding diagonal pieces to Xiangqi, is that they are, for lack of a better word, not needed. That because the king has only orthogonal moves. So the diagonal pieces seem overpowered.

🔔Notification on Wed, Oct 30 01:19 AM EDT:

The author, HaruN Y, has updated this page.

H. G. Muller wrote on Mon, Oct 28 12:23 PM EDT in reply to HaruN Y from 08:01 AM:

Indeed, this is better. But the background image still has the pieces in it, and in orthodox Xiangqi version (i.e. without Vaos). I would think this still is a fatal flaw...