How to play
Xiangqi is played on the points where the lines cross, on a board nine points wide and ten deep. A river runs across the middle, and each side has a palace: the 3 × 3 box marked with a cross. Red moves first. Take turns moving one piece; land on an enemy piece to capture it.
- General (帥 / 將, G): one point straight, and never leaves the palace. The two generals may never face each other on the same line with nothing between them.
- Advisor (仕 / 士, A): one point diagonally, inside the palace.
- Elephant (相 / 象, E): exactly two points diagonally. It can’t cross the river, and it’s blocked if a piece sits on the point in between.
- Horse (傌 / 馬, H): one point straight, then one diagonally outward. It’s blocked if a piece sits on that first point.
- Chariot (俥 / 車, R): any distance straight, like a rook in chess.
- Cannon (炮 / 砲, C): moves like a chariot, but captures only by jumping over exactly one piece (of either side).
- Soldier (兵 / 卒, S): one point forward. Once across the river it may also step sideways. It never moves back.
Winning
Put the other general in check with no way out (checkmate) and you win. Unlike chess, a player with no legal move at all also loses. A game that runs past 300 moves is a draw.
Tips
A popular first move is the central cannon: slide a cannon to the middle file, aiming at the other general. Get your chariots out early along open files; they’re your strongest pieces. Keep your advisors and elephants home to guard the general. Tap Show letters if the characters are new to you.