Manchu Chess

Manchu chess (Chinese: 满洲棋; pinyin: Mǎnzhōuqí), also known as Yitong or Yitong chess (Chinese: 一统棋; pinyin: Yìtǒngqí), is an asymmetric variant of Xiangqi. It was created during the Qing Dynasty by the Bannermen and was one of the most popular board games among them.

Rules

The board and pieces are almost the same as Xiangqi. The black side is unchanged, while the red side loses all its cannons, horses, and chariots except for a single chariot. That chariot combines the moves of the normal chariot, cannon, and horse. This piece is sometimes referred to as the Banner.

Strategy

While black is the stronger side, the black player must be careful not to lose pieces too easily to the banner.