Software Board-Games - Hidden Lynx
Assault Trooper
Genre: Board Game
Production: by Mikko \"Mayoneez\" Oksalahti
Publication date: 2005
Description:
"Hidden Lynx" is an adaption of the Chinese chess board game (Xiangqi) which is one of the most popular board games in the world.
It is quite similar to western chess, but in a certain way more complex (probably Chinese people would say the same thing about western chess).Here are some things about Chinese chess from the manual:The game is played by two players (Red against the Black/Green).
Players move one of their own pieces at a time in turns.
Red always begins.The goal in Chinese chess is to checkmate or stalemate the opponent's king.
Checkmate means that the king is under attack (i.e.
being checked = about to be captured) and it cannot be moved anywhere to avoid being captured.
Also, no other piece can be used to protect the king.
Stalemate means that the king is not under attack but no move can be made to avoid the king being captured.The Chinese chess board consists of 9 horizontal and 10 vertical positions.
The pieces are placed on the intersections of the lines, not inside the squares as in western chess.In the middle of the board is a horizontal area called the river.
The river divides the board into two sides.
Certain pieces may never cross the river and are thus confined to their own side of the board.
When a pawn crosses the river (i.e.
enters the opponent's side of the board), it gains additional moves.Both sides of the board contain an area called the palace.
The palace consists of 9 positions and is marked with a big X.
The king and its two guards may only move within the palace."Hidden Lynx" includes a detailed manual that will explain all the pieces and possible moves of the game.
It also has many settings (e.g.
show available moves or explain why a move is prohibited)that will help beginners to get familiar with the game very soon.