Starving chess players Although Chinese chess is very popular in Taiwan, one gets the impression that it is only played in parks, markets, temples, and other public spaces by people who are just looking for a fun way to kill time. The abilities of the players can vary considerably, and private Chinese chess clubs are sometimes just fronts for gambling operations.
雖說台灣象棋人口眾多，但給人的印象總是停留在公園、市場、廟口，彷彿只能是人們茶餘飯後無事可作的消磨，加上下棋人的素質、水準不一，私人棋社甚至成為賭場。