Watermelon Chess
Encyclopedia
Watermelon
Chess is a two-player abstract strategy game
from China
where it is known as Xi Gua Qi. It is also known as The Surround Game and Globe. It is related to the Bear games
of the ancient Romans. In fact, the board is exactly the same as one of the Bear Games. The difference is that in Watermelon Chess each player has six pieces, whereas in the Bear Games, there are three hunters played by one player, and one bear played by the other player. Furthermore, in the Bear games, only the hunters can surround and immobilize the movements of the one bear; the bear merely moves to avoid this as it is impossible for the bear itself to immobilize any of the hunters. In Watermelon Chess, every piece can participate in immobilizing the other player's pieces; furthermore, surrounded enemy pieces are captured.
The Go variant Sz'Kwa
uses the same board.
Watermelon Chess is not related to Chess
even though it includes the word "chess" in its name. The boards and pieces are completely different from one another. In Chess, the goal is to capture the King
, whereas, in Watermelon Chess, the goal is to capture the opponent's pieces and reduce their numbers to two.
Each player has six pieces. One player plays the black pieces, and the other player plays the white pieces, however, any two colors or distinguishable objects will do.
2. Each player's six pieces are initially placed on the six closest intersection points on their side of the board.
3. Players alternate their turns, and move one piece per turn. A piece can move one space per turn following the pattern on the board.
4. Enemy pieces can be captured if surrounded by the player's pieces so that it cannot move. Only one enemy piece can be captured per turn. Captured pieces are removed from the board.
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
Chess is a two-player abstract strategy game
Abstract strategy game
An abstract strategy game is a strategy game, aiming to minimise luck, and without a theme. Almost all abstract strategy games will conform to the strictest definition of: a board or card game, in which there is no hidden information, no non-deterministic elements , in which two players or teams...
from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
where it is known as Xi Gua Qi. It is also known as The Surround Game and Globe. It is related to the Bear games
Bear games
Bear games is a category of board games of which many have historical roots to the Roman empire. They are still played today especially in Italy. They were played in many parts of the Roman empire as far away as Turkey and France. All of the games are two-player abstract strategy board games. ...
of the ancient Romans. In fact, the board is exactly the same as one of the Bear Games. The difference is that in Watermelon Chess each player has six pieces, whereas in the Bear Games, there are three hunters played by one player, and one bear played by the other player. Furthermore, in the Bear games, only the hunters can surround and immobilize the movements of the one bear; the bear merely moves to avoid this as it is impossible for the bear itself to immobilize any of the hunters. In Watermelon Chess, every piece can participate in immobilizing the other player's pieces; furthermore, surrounded enemy pieces are captured.
The Go variant Sz'Kwa
Sz'Kwa
Sz'Kwa is a two-player abstract strategy game from Taiwan. It is a Go, Weiqi, or Baduk variant. The Sz'Kwa board is not an n x n square board like Go or Weiqi. Instead, the board is circular in design. The same board is used by Watermelon Chess and one of the ancient Roman Bear games.-...
uses the same board.
Watermelon Chess is not related to Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
even though it includes the word "chess" in its name. The boards and pieces are completely different from one another. In Chess, the goal is to capture the King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
, whereas, in Watermelon Chess, the goal is to capture the opponent's pieces and reduce their numbers to two.
Equipment
The board is composed of a large circle with an inner middle circle. Four semicircles form a North, South, East, and West arrangement in the interior of the larger circle. The large circle and the smaller middle circle are divided equally into four pie slices. This creates for twenty-one intersection points where the pieces are played upon.Each player has six pieces. One player plays the black pieces, and the other player plays the white pieces, however, any two colors or distinguishable objects will do.
Game Play and Rules
1. Players decide what colors to play, and who starts first.2. Each player's six pieces are initially placed on the six closest intersection points on their side of the board.
3. Players alternate their turns, and move one piece per turn. A piece can move one space per turn following the pattern on the board.
4. Enemy pieces can be captured if surrounded by the player's pieces so that it cannot move. Only one enemy piece can be captured per turn. Captured pieces are removed from the board.