Let's Catch the Lion! (Dōbutsu Shōgi) is a simple version of Shogi. Both players have only four pieces – chick, giraffe, elephant and lion – and they're trying to either catch the opponent's lion or move their own lion to the other side.
As for how to play:
- The giraffe moves like a rook, but moves only one space.
- The elephant moves like a bishop, but moves only one space. (Interestingly, in Xiangqi and Tamerlane Chess, the elephant moves precisely two spaces diagonally.)
- The chick is directly analogous to the pawn/soldier of Shogi, and is promoted to a full-grown chicken, equivalent to the gold general in Shogi.
- The lion is analogous to a king, except that he can win essentially by promoting, as long as it doesn't leave him in check.
- Even on this 3×4 board, you are still able to drop in pieces that you captured from your opponent!
- Unlike in Shogi, you can drop a chick for mate or have two chicks in a column.
BGG page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/567 ... catch-lion
French rules: https://www.shogi.cz/manual/dobutsuFR.pdf
English rules: https://www.shogi.cz/manual/dobutsuEN.pdf
Game page: https://boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?ga ... tchthelion
Have fun!
As for how to play:
- The giraffe moves like a rook, but moves only one space.
- The elephant moves like a bishop, but moves only one space. (Interestingly, in Xiangqi and Tamerlane Chess, the elephant moves precisely two spaces diagonally.)
- The chick is directly analogous to the pawn/soldier of Shogi, and is promoted to a full-grown chicken, equivalent to the gold general in Shogi.
- The lion is analogous to a king, except that he can win essentially by promoting, as long as it doesn't leave him in check.
- Even on this 3×4 board, you are still able to drop in pieces that you captured from your opponent!
- Unlike in Shogi, you can drop a chick for mate or have two chicks in a column.
BGG page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/567 ... catch-lion
French rules: https://www.shogi.cz/manual/dobutsuFR.pdf
English rules: https://www.shogi.cz/manual/dobutsuEN.pdf
Game page: https://boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?ga ... tchthelion
Have fun!