Check out Atomic Chess, our featured variant for November, 2024.

This page is written by the game's inventor, HaruN Y.

ZhamengQi

ZhamengQi is a XiangQi variant that features Grasshopper.

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

First rank

Second rank

Third rank

Fourth rank

Pieces

Rook

Red RookBlack RookRed RookBlack Rook

The ROOOK 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 KnightBlack KnightRed KnightBlack 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 ElephantBlack 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 GuardBlack Guard

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

General

Red KingBlack KingRed KingBlack 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.

Grasshopper

 

The Grasshopper moves queenwise over a piece to the 1st cell beyond, capturing any enemy piece on that cell.

Cannon

Red CannonBlack CannonRed CannonBlack Cannon

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

Soldier

Red PawnBlack Pawn

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

Notes

Pieces estimated value:
Rook: 5 soldier
Advisor: 1 soldier
Grasshopper: 2 soldier
Cannon: 3 soldier
Minister: 1 soldier
Mao: 2,5 soldier



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: 2023-07-29. Web page last updated: 2023-10-22

Revisions of MSzhamengqi