Banqi
A Chinese board game of hidden pieces and ranked captures.
Banqi (半棋, "Half Chess"), also called Dark Chess or Blind Chess, is a two-player board game from China. It is played on a 4×8 grid—half of a standard xiangqi (Chinese chess) board. Most games take ten to twenty minutes, but experienced players can stretch a match to an hour or more. The game is social and casual, not typically played in serious tournaments. A more structured version of Banqi may have given rise to the games Jungle and modern Luzhanqi.
**Equipment**
*Board*: While purpose-made Banqi boards exist, players often just use one side of a xiangqi board (ignoring the River).
*Pieces*: Banqi uses xiangqi pieces. The backs must be identical so that face-down pieces cannot be identified—pieces with printed international symbols on the back won't work. Each player has 16 pieces: five Soldiers, one General, and two of each of the other five piece types. One side is usually red, the other black, though the characters may differ. (See the xiangqi article for detailed piece descriptions.)
**Playing the Game**
The 32 pieces are shuffled and placed face-down at random on the board's squares (pieces sit inside squares, not on intersections as in Chinese chess). The first player flips a piece; its color determines which side they play for the rest of the game. The second player then makes a move, and turns alternate until the game ends.
The game ends when a player cannot move—most often because all their pieces have been captured. That player loses.
**Rules for Moves**
There are three kinds of moves: turning a piece face-up, moving a piece, or capturing an enemy piece. Some variants allow multiple captures in one turn.
*Turning Over a Piece*: As long as any face-down pieces remain, a player may flip one face-up. Once revealed, that piece can move, capture, or be captured.
*Moving a Piece*: Only face-up pieces of your own color can move. All pieces move the same way: one square up, down, left, or right. Captures work the same way, except for the cannon in Taiwanese rules.
*Capturing an Opposing Piece*: Only face-up pieces of your own color can capture, and only face-up enemy pieces can be captured. The captured piece is removed, and the capturing piece takes its square.
Pieces are ranked in a hierarchy, with the General at the top and Soldiers at the bottom. A piece can only capture another of equal or lower rank, with one exception.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Banqi
- Italic Title
- no
- Players
- 2
- Setup Time
- < 1 minute
- Playing Time
- 5–15 minutes
- Random Chance
- High
- Skills
- Strategy, tactics
- Aka
- Half Chess / Dark Chess / Blind Chess
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Banqi uses xiangqi pieces, with the backs indistinguishable so pieces cannot be identified when face down. The 32 pieces are shuffled and randomly allocated face-down to squares on the board. The first player turns up a piece to begin the game; the color of that piece determines the color they will play. The second player then makes a move, and the two alternate until the game ends when a player cannot move, usually because all their pieces have been captured.
Reader's Guide
Banqi is significant as a social variant of Chinese chess that emphasizes chance and hidden information, making it accessible to casual players while still offering strategic depth. Its ranking systems vary by region: in the Taiwanese version, the hierarchy is General > Advisor > Elephant > Chariot > Horse > Soldier, with the cannon capturing by jumping over a screen; in the Hong Kong version, the order is General > Chariot > Horse > Cannon > Advisor > Elephant > Soldier, with all pieces moving one square; the Mainland Chinese version places the cannon just above the soldier. The general cannot capture soldiers in Taiwanese rules, but soldiers can capture the general, creating a unique vulnerability. Stalemate rules differ culturally, with some considering it illegal and others allowing it as a strategic tool. Banqi's legacy includes its possible influence on the games Jungle and Luzhanqi, and its continued popularity as a lighthearted pastime.
Did You Know?
- Banqi is played on half of a xiangqi board, using only one side of the River.
- The first uncovered piece determines the color the first player will use for the rest of the game.
- In Taiwanese rules, the cannon can capture any piece by jumping over exactly one intermediate piece, called a screen.
- A popular variation with children allows multiple captures on the same turn for both exposed and face-down pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Banqi and where does the name come from?
Banqi, literally 'Half Chess,' is a two-player Chinese board game played on a 4×8 grid—exactly half the width of a full xiangqi board. It is also called Dark Chess or Blind Chess because pieces are concealed from the opponent.
How does Banqi differ from standard xiangqi?
Beyond the smaller board, Banqi relies on hidden pieces and a ranked-capture system rather than the open-information play of xiangqi. Each side fields sixteen pieces: one General, five Soldiers, and two each of five other piece types.
How long does a typical Banqi match take?
Most games finish in ten to twenty minutes, making it a quick casual pastime. Skilled or particularly drawn-out matches can stretch past an hour, but the social, low-pressure setting keeps things relaxed.
Is Banqi a competitive tournament game?
No—Banqi is played as a casual social activity rather than in formal tournaments. Its hidden-information mechanic and informal structure make it more of a friendly pastime than a competitive discipline.
Did Banqi give rise to any other games?
A more structured offshoot of Banqi is widely credited as the ancestor of the game Jungle and of modern Luzhanqi. The game also survives in distinct Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong variants.
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