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Nine-Piece Celestial Chess
In Chinese language, the terms bo and yi are often associated. Bo refers to gambling and games involving odds. “Liu Bo” was a chess game that represented gambling in ancient China. Gambling involves odds and probability, and it has been fascinating, seducing, and challenging people since ancient times.
The other word yi refers to board game. These are played by following certain rules, and instead of luck, strategic and critical thinking decide the winner. The game of “Go” is the most well-known board game of ancient China. There are also games that integrate the features of both gambling and board games, such as the modern-day game Monopoly. Players need to cast dice (gambling) and make strategic judgment about real estate investment (board game). 
In Collections of Ehuan Tricks, Nine-Piece Celestial Chess is listed as a self-challenging intellectual board game. It is similar to “Solitaire” invented during the French Revolution. (The game is also known as “Kong Ming Chess.” Therefore, some people assert that it was invented by the military counselor Kong Ming in the Three Kingdoms period. There’s no evidence to support such assertion.)
Nine-Piece Celestial Chess can be thought of as a reverse version of Solitaire. Players have to take required moves and place the nine pieces within the pentagram. It is quite challenging to play this game in spite of its simple rules. However, as soon as the game’s few ‘knack’ principles are understood it is very easy to solve.
National Digital Archives Program—UEPlay Digital Museum -Intellectual Games