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


[ Help | Earliest Comments | Latest Comments ]
[ List All Subjects of Discussion | Create New Subject of Discussion ]
[ List Earliest Comments Only For Pages | Games | Rated Pages | Rated Games | Subjects of Discussion ]

Single Comment

Pao. (Updated!) Moves like rook, but must jump when taking.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
David Cannon wrote on Fri, Apr 18, 2003 11:26 AM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
The movement of the Cannon is one of three significant differences between
Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) and Changgi (Korean Chess) [the other differences
concern the Elephant and the design of the board - Changgi has no river).

The Koreans have somewhat simplified the movement of the Cannon.  Unlike
its Chinese cousin, the Korean cannon moves as it captures : it cannot
move at all without flying over a 'screen' piece.

The effect of all this is that the Korean cannon tends to be an immensely
powerful piece in the early and mid-stages of the game, equal or superior
to the CHA (rook), but practically useless in the endgame, when there are
few pieces left to leap over.  Part of the strategy of Changgi is knowing
just when to exchange the Cannon for another piece.

Another distinctively Korean feature of the Cannon is that, unlike its
Chinese counterpart, it cannot capture an enemy cannon, or leap over a
fellow-cannon, friend or foe.  Shades of blood brothers?