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Simple and Easy Ways to Win at Animal Chess

What is the simple and easy way to win at chess? It is evident that just like any other game, understanding the rules and strategies is essential. Chess is an incredibly fascinating game for everyone. So let's explore the article below with FPT Shop.

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25 February, 2024

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Each piece in the animal chess game represents a different type of animal and has different strengths. The goal of this game is for players to capture all of their opponent’s animal pieces. If you’re looking for a simple guide on how to play animal chess, then follow along with the article from FPT Shop below.

What is Animal Chess? The Origin of Animal Chess

Animal Chess is a strategic game played in a jungle setting with caves and traps scattered among the rivers. Each player has 8 animal pieces, each representing an animal in the jungle with different strengths and ranks. Animals with higher ranks can capture or defeat animals with lower ranks. The goal of Animal Chess is to either enter your opponent’s cave with one of your pieces or capture all of your opponent’s animal pieces.

The game of Animal Chess originated from China. It is played on a 7×9 board and is popular among children due to its vivid animal imagery. This game is also known as The Jungle Game, Oriental Chess, Children’s Chess,…

What Does an Animal Chess Set Include?

Game Board

An Animal Chess board consists of 7 columns and 9 rows (63 squares) printed on a rectangular piece of paper. The board is divided equally into two sections representing the territories of the two players. The board features special squares:

Cave: Each player has one cave located in the center of their first row on your side of the board. This is the target that your opponent will aim for in order to win, so pay attention.
Trap: Each player has three traps placed on the sides of their cave.
River Area: The river area is located in the center of the board and consists of a rectangular area of 2×3 squares.

Pieces, Ranks

The pieces come in two colors: Green and Red, representing the two players. Each player has 8 animal pieces, each representing an animal species with different ranks and strengths. The pieces are decorated with images of the animals they represent. The ranks and strengths of the animal species are as follows:

Elephant: Rank 8
Lion: Rank 7
Tiger: Rank 6
Leopard: Rank 5
Dog: Rank 4
Wolf: Rank 3
Cat: Rank 2
Rat: Rank 1

Piece Placement

Before starting the game, you need to place the pieces in their designated positions on the board. The board will have designated spots for each piece, and you simply need to place the pieces in the correct spots.

Simple Guide to Playing Animal Chess

How to Win

The objective of the game is to either enter your opponent’s cave with one of your pieces or capture all of your opponent’s animal pieces.

How to Move Pieces

You will choose the Green pieces to move first, and the players will take turns. On your turn, you will move one of your pieces. All pieces can move according to the following rules: move forward or backward by 1 square, move left or right by 1 square. Diagonal moves are not allowed. Additionally, you need to follow specific movement rules:

The Rat is the only animal that can enter the river area.
The Lion and Tiger can jump across the river horizontally or vertically by jumping from one square on one side of the river to the corresponding square on the opposite side. If the square they jump to contains an animal of equal or lower rank, they can capture that piece. This jumping move is blocked if there is a Rat piece on the river square they intend to jump to.

Regarding Traps:

You can jump in and out of your own traps without any consequence. However, if one player’s piece jumps into the opponent’s trap, that piece will be trapped, lose all of its ranks, become rank 0, and can be captured by any opponent’s piece, regardless of rank. The rank of the trapped piece will be restored when it manages to escape the trap.

Regarding Caves:

Players are not allowed to enter their own caves.

The player who successfully moves any piece into the opponent’s cave wins the game.

How to Capture Pieces

A player can capture an opponent’s piece by moving their own piece according to the movement rules and if the capturing piece has a rank equal to or higher than the captured piece. The captured piece will be removed from its current position on the board and replaced by the capturing piece.

However, there are some special cases to note in Animal Chess:

Although the Rat has the lowest rank, it can capture or defeat an Elephant on land. This is because the Rat runs into the Elephant’s ear and gnaws its brain.
Every Rat piece in the water is invulnerable to any piece on land, regardless of rank. Therefore, Rat pieces can only capture each other in the water.
A piece that lands on one of the opponent’s traps will be demoted to rank 0. Therefore, a piece caught in a trap can be captured by any opponent’s piece, regardless of rank. The captured piece will regain its rank when it escapes from the opponent’s trap.

Conclusion

Through the article from FPT Shop, you now understand how to play Animal Chess and the related elements of the game. We hope that you will be victorious when you play.

Frequently asked questions

Animal Chess, also known as Jungle Chess, is a variant of the traditional game of chess. To win, focus on capturing the opponent’s pieces efficiently. Prioritize taking the elephant, followed by the lion, tiger, and then the dog. Use the monkey’s unique ability to jump over pieces to your advantage, and remember that the rooster can move diagonally. Plan your moves to trap your opponent’s pieces, especially their powerful ones, and protect your own pieces at all costs.

The elephant is the most powerful piece in Animal Chess. It can move any number of vacant squares along the marked lines, either forwards, backwards, or to the sides. Use the elephant to attack your opponent’s pieces from a distance and to control the center of the board. It is a key piece in trapping and capturing your opponent’s lion and tiger.

The lion and tiger are both powerful pieces. They can move one vacant square in any direction, including diagonally. Additionally, they have the unique ability to jump over one of their own pieces to capture the opponent’s piece adjacent to it. This special move can be very useful for attacking and capturing your opponent’s pieces, especially when combined with the movement of your elephant.

In Animal Chess, you can capture your opponent’s pieces by moving one of your pieces into the square occupied by their piece. The opponent’s piece is then removed from the board. Each piece has its own unique movement patterns, so familiarize yourself with them to plan effective captures. Remember that capturing your opponent’s elephant, lion, and tiger should be a priority as they are the most powerful pieces.

The monkey has the unique ability to jump over one of your own pieces to move forward or backward. This can be useful for escaping traps or reaching a specific square quickly. The rooster, on the other hand, can move one vacant square diagonally or forward. Use the rooster to control the center of the board and support your other pieces.