A Beautiful Sacrifice, A Risky Game, New game pieces and board image. Options

[Fire_Stride]

I just made a new set of game pieces and a board featuring a picture that my cousin took while she was studying in Vietnam. I hope you like it. While in the Master table, I was thrilled to come across this well played gambit. It was absolutely marvelous! So come and enjoy it with me:

Move	Comments
5.	Red takes the aggressive route in this opening, by advancing far with the rook. It's a familiar opening, but I would prefer not to overextend my forces so soon in the game
	Blue responds by charging his cavalry, a typical response for the opening. The theory is that Blue will trade the defense of his center pawn for some momentum on his left side. This kind of sacrifice can be called a gambit, but there is another gambit to come that will astound you!
10.	As predicted, Red has taken control of the center, but at the cost of leaving his right side completely vulnerable to Blue's cannon and rook.
	---
11.	---
	Blue dominates the left side of his board.
12.	---
	He brings in the other cannon to increase the pressure.
14.	Red positions his rook defensively to that side of the board, but there really isn't anything it can do to Blue's protected cannon. In a case like this, you should put your rook to another task.
	Blue appears to be setting up a siege on the position immediately to the right of Red’s general. I wonder why Red hasn’t responded.
	Alternate Move 14: Use the Red rook to defend column four, which intersects with the focal point where the enemy cannons intend to attack, a spot next to the general. If Blue attacks with his cannons, then at least they can be immobilized afterwards by the red rook. See diagram below.
15.	I don't know why he advanced the knight, especially when it can easily be blocked by the enemy rook.
	---
17.	The knight eventually retreats, causing Red to lose tempo.
	A Gambit! This is my favorite part of the whole game, and from here onwards, the game becomes really exciting! Blue has sacrificed a cannon, but let's find out what he will gain in the following moves.
19.	---
	He follows through with an attack which recuperates the earlier loss.
21.	---
	There is a vulnerable spot between the red knight and general. Blue notices. Red has a chance to defend that spot, if he pulls his cannon back one space.
22.	Oh no! Instead of defending the weak point next to his general, Red decides to attack. Now is not the time for that. This is a grave mistake.
	Blue calls up his other rook to join the fight. The game is over from here on.
	Alternate Move 22: Pull the red cannon back to cover the general’s weak left side. This will prolong the game a bit.
	I hope you had as much fun as I did with this game. I promise to bring you another game review soon. See you next time!