What is Manchu Chess?
Manchu chess is a xiangqi variant with uneven armies. Black has the usual sixteen pieces. Red has no chariots, horses or cannons at all; in their place it has one piece, the banner, which combines the moves of all three.
Red's army is the banner, the general, two advisors, two elephants and five soldiers: eleven pieces against sixteen. The banner starts on the chariot's square in Red's left corner. All other pieces move exactly as in standard xiangqi, and the palace, river and flying-general rules are unchanged.
The banner is far stronger than any single standard piece. It slides along open lines like a chariot, jumps like a horse (and can be blocked the same way), and can capture by jumping over one piece like a cannon. Red's task is to use that power before Black's extra pieces take over.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Xiangqi | Manchu Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Starting position | Standard XiangqiBoth sides have sixteen pieces: a general, two advisors, two elephants, two horses, two chariots, two cannons and five soldiers. | Manchu ChessBlack has the standard sixteen. Red has eleven: the banner on its left corner, the general, two advisors, two elephants and five soldiers. |
| The banner | Standard XiangqiNot used. | Manchu ChessMoves as a chariot along open lines or as a horse, and can be blocked as a horse is. It captures as a chariot, as a horse, or as a cannon by jumping exactly one piece. |
| First move | Standard XiangqiRed moves first. | Manchu ChessRed moves first. |
| How to win | Standard XiangqiCheckmate the opposing general, or leave the opponent without a legal move. | Manchu ChessThe same, for both sides. |
History
Manchu chess, mǎnzhōu qí in Chinese, was created during the Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912), when the Manchus ruled China. Tradition credits it to the Manchu bannermen, the soldiers of the Eight Banners, and the banner piece is said to take its name from them.
The game became known outside China through collections of chess variants, and it is played online today. This table uses the original setup, with the banner starting on the chariot's square in Red's left corner.