Making a Move

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Chinese chess is a popular pastime among the Vietnamese. I often see them play outside of the shopping malls, coffee houses, or in the parks.

These gents are playing a different variant, which I have never seen before. They set up the board with the pieces turn upside-down; except for the “general” piece (the most important piece), which is faced up during the entire game.

When a player moves a piece for the very first time, he will then turn its face up. Afterward, that piece will stay up until the very end. Every time a piece is uncovered, the game changes, sometimes very dramatically. The players then have to adapt, and adjust their strategies accordingly.

This adds a surprise element to the game. The advantages or disadvantages may change hands from one move to the next.

Sometimes, I think life is full of surprises and all one can do is try one’s best to make the right move; then move on.

-Quan.
March 2011.