Xou Dou Qi

Xou Dou Qi or, more accurately, Dou Shou Qi. Or also Animal Chess, Jungle Chess, Animals Fight, among other names. It is an abstract strategy game, often presented as originating from ancient China.

Probably much more recent in origin, it is a variant of combat games, for two players, in here with animal armies in confrontation.

Each animal has a different strength, from the Elephant, with 8, until the Rat, with 1, and in descending order, the big cats, Lion, Tiger and Leopard, the Dog and Wolf, and the Cat.

Initial position

The Board is symmetrical, with a den on each side, protected by 3 traps (marked with "X" on the images). An animal that enters into an enemy trap sees his strength reduced to 1, and therefore is at the mercy of any enemy animal.  

The basic movement of each animal is the same: one space at a time, horizontally or vertically.

The two existing Lakes complicate the progression of animals or, at least, of some of them, demanding for different tactics: the Tiger and the Lion can jump over the Lakes, to the length or width; Rats can swim across; for all the other animals, these are insurmountable obstacles. 

An animal can capture an adjacent animal that has the same or lesser strength. But beware! The Rat may capture the Elephant (which as we know is afraid of Rats!), as long as it's not in a lake exit move, from water to land.

A swimming Rat

The objective of the game is to enter the opponent’s Den, which usually implies a combination of strategies of both animal capture and diversion of defenders. 

In the image below, the Green Tiger won't be able to defend his Den. He may capture the Wolf or the Cat, but not both.

A win for the Reds

It is possible to find several variations on the rules. For example, in some rules the Elephant cannot capture the Rat, which increases the strategic role of the rodent.

In the version distributed by Majora, a Portuguese publisher, dated probably from the ' 90, there are significant differences: the name used; a quite different starting position, with the animals distributed only by two ranks; and leopards that can also jump over lakes.

Initial position, Majora Edition

A game sometimes deceptively presented as simple.

For those who enjoy strategic fighting games for two players.

Xou Dou Qi, Majora.