Setup and opening position
Thirty-two pieces occupy the standard nine-file, ten-rank Xiangqi position with the river between the armies, each general inside its three-by-three palace, and Red taking the first move.
Xiangqi
Win by checkmating the opposing general or leaving that player with no legal move; the versioned browser rules also recognize repeated positions and the no-capture move limit as draws.
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How to play
Win by checkmating the opposing general or leaving that player with no legal move; the versioned browser rules also recognize repeated positions and the no-capture move limit as draws.
- Thirty-two pieces occupy the standard nine-file, ten-rank Xiangqi position with the river between the armies, each general inside its three-by-three palace, and Red taking the first move.
- Chariots slide orthogonally; cannons slide likewise but capture only across exactly one screen. Horses require an empty leg, elephants require an empty eye and cannot cross the river, advisors and generals remain in their palaces, and soldiers gain sideways movement after crossing. A move may not expose the general or leave the two generals facing on an open file.
- Win by checkmating the opposing general or leaving that player with no legal move; the versioned browser rules also recognize repeated positions and the no-capture move limit as draws.
Strategy tips
- Coordinate chariots and cannons on open files, preserve useful cannon screens, clear horse legs before launching an attack, and treat palace defenders as part of one connected king-safety structure.
- A cannon does not jump during a quiet move and cannot capture with zero or two intervening pieces; moving a central blocker may also create an illegal flying-general line.
- Count palace exits and checking screens precisely, centralize the surviving chariot or horse, and avoid aimless reversible moves when repetition or the no-capture threshold is near.
Complete guide
Rules, scoring, and strategy
Xiangqi is a complete browser implementation with its own versioned rules profile. Command generals, chariots, cannons, horses, elephants, advisors, and soldiers across the river in complete Chinese chess.
Legal moves and game flow
Chariots slide orthogonally; cannons slide likewise but capture only across exactly one screen. Horses require an empty leg, elephants require an empty eye and cannot cross the river, advisors and generals remain in their palaces, and soldiers gain sideways movement after crossing. A move may not expose the general or leave the two generals facing on an open file.
Winning and terminal positions
Win by checkmating the opposing general or leaving that player with no legal move; the versioned browser rules also recognize repeated positions and the no-capture move limit as draws. Count palace exits and checking screens precisely, centralize the surviving chariot or horse, and avoid aimless reversible moves when repetition or the no-capture threshold is near.
Practical strategy
Coordinate chariots and cannons on open files, preserve useful cannon screens, clear horse legs before launching an attack, and treat palace defenders as part of one connected king-safety structure. A cannon does not jump during a quiet move and cannot capture with zero or two intervening pieces; moving a central blocker may also create an illegal flying-general line.
Questions players ask
What is the objective in Xiangqi?
Win by checkmating the opposing general or leaving that player with no legal move; the versioned browser rules also recognize repeated positions and the no-capture move limit as draws.
Which moves are legal in Xiangqi?
Chariots slide orthogonally; cannons slide likewise but capture only across exactly one screen. Horses require an empty leg, elephants require an empty eye and cannot cross the river, advisors and generals remain in their palaces, and soldiers gain sideways movement after crossing. A move may not expose the general or leave the two generals facing on an open file.
What should I plan first in Xiangqi?
Coordinate chariots and cannons on open files, preserve useful cannon screens, clear horse legs before launching an attack, and treat palace defenders as part of one connected king-safety structure.
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