Rhombic Chess

There are two different boards used in Rhombic Chess. The game commences with the board vacant of counters.

Alternate Names

斜方棋

No. of Players

Two

Equipment

One of the two Rhombic Chess boards and five each black and white counters are required for play. Note that, one of the boards has nine intersections where counters may be placed and the other has thirteen.

History

This game is played in China. Some schools use giant versions of the game painted on the ground as a sort of intellectual gymnasium for children.

Objective

The objective of both players is to blockade their opponent and prohibit them from being able to make a legal move. The first player to do so being the winner.

Play

The game has a drop phase and a movement phase. In the drop phase, alternate turns entail each player entering their five counters onto any vacant intersection of the board. When all counters are placed movement may begin. Players take turns moving their counters along a line to an adjacent vacant intersection, attempting to block their opponent’s legal moves, the first player to do so being the winner.

Strategy

Variations

Sources