Using Zillions, I played out this sample game, which ends with the 4 remaining Black Pawns blockaded by 4 White pieces, while a Black King, Chariot, Knight, Counselor, and Elephant are locked in behind the Pawns. Even if this was a variant allowing Kings to move into check and be captured, Black would still have no legal moves in the final position:
[EDIT 10/22/2024] H. G. Muller posted an applet in the Comments (May 3, 2021). You can click "Play it!" and copypaste the following (eighteen move) game. Clicking "Move" at the end makes the applet appropriately respond with *** I resign! ***
Using Zillions, I played out this sample game, which ends with the 4 remaining Black Pawns blockaded by 4 White pieces, while a Black King, Chariot, Knight, Counselor, and Elephant are locked in behind the Pawns. Even if this was a variant allowing Kings to move into check and be captured, Black would still have no legal moves in the final position:
[EDIT 10/22/2024] H. G. Muller posted an applet in the Comments (May 3, 2021). You can click "Play it!" and copypaste the following (eighteen move) game. Clicking "Move" at the end makes the applet appropriately respond with *** I resign! ***
1. a3 a6 2. a4 b6 3. a5 b5 4. Ra3 Ra7 5. Rh3 Be6 6. Rxh7 Kc8 7. Rxg7 Kb7 8. Rxf7 Ka8 9. Rxf8 Bc8 10. Rxg8 Rh5 11. Nc3 Qf7 12. Rg5 Qe6 13. Rxh5 Qd5 14. Nxb5 Qc6 15. Nd6 Qb7 16. Be3 c6 17. Bc5 e6 18. Re5