Chinese Chess

Look, if you were expecting a Western version of Xiangqi, you might want to put down the tea and relax, because this 'Chinese Chess' is something else entirely! Despite the potentially confusing name, this is an original creation by Ron Dubrin that brings a very curious and addictive capture dynamic to the table. The game uses a 6x6 grid, with a 2x2 empty area right in the center, and pieces start by filling almost everything around it.

The core mechanic revolves around jumping. The game works through a 'jumping' logic to capture pieces, but there's a twist that will melt your brain: each player follows a different jumping rule. While one player jumps over pieces of their own color, the other must jump over pieces of a different color to make the capture. It's a constant test of perception to avoid illegal moves! The ultimate goal is straightforward but requires deep strategy: capture 13 of your opponent's pieces to win.

To spice things up, the board features 12 colored squares surrounding the central area. If you manage to land on one of these colored squares after a jump, congrats: you get to move again! This allows for multiple jump combos that can flip the game in a heartbeat. And if you run out of jump options? No worries, you can slide like a rook on a chessboard. Just keep one tactical rule in mind: you cannot move a piece that has just been moved by your opponent. It is a game of fast pace, quick decisions, and a level of abstraction that will keep you thinking about your next move long after the game ends.