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Cannons of Chesstonia. Cannons launch a Pawn, Wazir, Ferz and Stone to increase strategical and tactical play. (12x8, Cells: 80) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

💡📝Gary Gifford wrote on Wed, Jul 19, 2006 04:26 PM UTC:

Carlos:  You ask, 'Why does the cannon have to launch over a piece? what
was wrong with having it launch to any of the eight squares? too hard to
defend?'  

GKG Reply:  Carlos, thanks for the question.  I could have made the game
as you describe, but I prefer the way it is now because:

a) the Cannons retain some resemblance to Xianqi cannons, i.e., the idea
of leaping over a piece is retained--- though here we are doing it for
placement of a piece, rather than a capture.

b) More important is the offensive/defensive aspect.  If you see that a
Cannon is ready to shoot a piece to a vacant square you actually have a
chance to do something about it.  It can't launch if the row is vacated. 
If you have two or more pawns and/or pieces adjacent on the same row (rank)
then you also can inhibit the opponent.

The Cannon can shoot over friend, or foe... so you can try to set up a
launch with your own piece or pawn.

I have played several games of this and have had fun seting up my own
Cannon launches while also trying to thwart the launches of my opponent.

It is my opinion that good Cannon technique (both offensive and defensive)
adds an interesting level of tactics and strategy to the game.