🚀 go-pugleaf

The Japanese actively play a game that is quite similar to
the Paratrooper Chess variant under discussion.  The game
has common, although ancient, origin with Chess.  It's played
on a 9 x 9 board.  Each side has 9 Pawns on the 3rd Rank,
1 Rook and 1 Bishop on the second Rank, and flanking the
King in order are paired: Gold, Silver, Knight, and Lance.
These 40 pieces never leave the game.  Pieces are oriented
by means of their shape, and although they are associated
with the Black or the White side, they are not colored.
Upon capturing a piece it goes into the capturing side's
"hand".  The side on the move may move a piece on the board
or may drop a piece in hand just about anywhere.  There are
two restrictions on Pawn drops:

	1. Can't drop a Pawn on a file with another
	   unpromoted Pawn.

	2. Can't mate on a Pawn drop.


Every piece except for the King and the two Golds have the
option of promoting on any on board move originating or ending
within the enemy's 3 home ranks.  The piece's movement then
receives greater power.

"Shogi: Japan's Game of Strategy" by Trevor P. Leggett (Charles
E. Tuttle Company) describes the game including a brief history
and a cardboard punch-out set.

Compared to Chess, the pieces are relatively slow moving and 
there is more board area to cover.  However, once a little material
has been exchanged the game heats up due to the "paratrooping
ability" of the pieces held in hand.  It's hard to find people
who know how to play, but it's a very amusing game.

Computer Play is said to exist in Japan, but it is viewed as
being quite weak.  The mean fan-out might be twice that of Chess.

Chris