Small frame
Four pieces occupy the four corners of a small square adjacent to it. Small boxes can appear between any adjacent two rows or two columns on the board.
What does it mean to form a pattern?
When your pieces form a specified shape, it's called "forming a pattern." Wu Fu Qi has five forming a patterns: small frame, three slanting, four stars, five blessings, and connecting heaven.
During the Cloth phase, a piece is placed to form a pattern and can suppress an opponent's piece; During the move phase, a new piece is played and can capture an opponent's piece. The diagonal line is only used to determine forming a pattern; when a piece actually moves, it can only move along the horizontal or vertical line to the adjacent empty point.
Five shapes illustrated by the group
triclinic
The three pieces are arranged in a continuous diagonal line, with both ends of the diagonal line falling on the edge of the board. However, if the three pieces are arranged diagonally inside the board, it is not considered a triple diagonal.
Four stars
Four pieces are arranged in a continuous diagonal line, connecting two adjacent edges of the board. It is one square longer than the three diagonals, but still does not pass through the two diagonals.
Five traditional patterns
All five points in the same row or column are occupied by your own pieces. Both horizontal and vertical five pieces count as Five Blessings.
Tongtian
Five pieces connect the two opposite sides of the board along a large diagonal line. Both complete diagonal lines can form a 'Tongtian' (Heavenly Connection).
What should you pay attention to after forming a pattern?
- One move forms multiple pieces simultaneously, and during the move phase, you can only capture at most one of your opponent's pieces.
- A piece removed from a pattern that has already formed a pattern cannot return to its original position within two moves to repeat forming a pattern; This move is considered illegal.
- Pieces already in forming a pattern usually cannot be captured; Pieces can only be captured if the opponent has only pieces left in the forming a pattern.
- Different items can share pieces; whether a pattern is actually formed depends on the current board position.