Siguo Xiangqi (Four Kingdoms Chess)

(Les échecs des Quatre Royaumes)

SIGUO XIANGQI:

Siguo xiangqi, 四國象棋, means Four Kingdoms Chess and is a multiplayer variant of xiangqi.

It is amazing to see how often this game has been re-invented in modern China, with only minor differences. It is very likely that inventors believe to be the first each time!

The players are always opposed two against two. However, the alliances vary. In some variants, the allies seat face-to-face, in other variants, the allies are on the same side of a large diagonal which splits the board.

Play order is variable as well. For some inventor, it is clockwise, and counterclockwise for others.

The rules are classical. The player who looses removes all his pieces from play. Victory is for the camp who has checkmated or stalemated both opposite Generals.

For the following first variation, there is no river, hence the Elephants can move without any limitation.

Other variants have larger side extensions and rivers.

 A very similar game

A variant invented in Taiwan in 1993 by Cai Tian Cai. Also described here.

This version has 9 Soldiers per side.

This version has trapezoidal camps and his computorized.

 An invention from Mr. Zhou from Heilongjiang in 2011.

This variation has been publicized on many Chinese news websites. For example, it can be seen here. It has been invented by a couple from Gaoxiong University of Science and Technology in 2012.

ZHONGHUA SIGUO XIANGQI :

Intitled 中华四国象棋 "Chinese Four Kingdom Xiangqi", this variant is presented on this Chinese website. It involves a neutral camp with a King (Wang, 王) and 8 stations (Tun, 屯) in the middle of a "Forbidden City".

BAI QI DAIZHAN:

The name of this game is 百棋大战 and means "100 Chess War". See this Chinese link.

This variant is thus named because each of the 4 players has 25 pieces. In addition to regular xiangqi chessmen there are 2 Fire (Huo,火), 2 Flags (Qi,旗), 3 additionnal Advisors (Shi,仕), and 2 additionnal Soldiers (Bing,兵).

There is also the Shuang Bai Qi Daizhan, 双百棋大战, "200 Chess War" for 8 players!

• 3-Handed Xiangqi: Sanguo Qi and Sanyou Qi
• 7-Handed Xiangqi: Qiguo Xiangqi