How to play Xiangqi
Xiangqi is played on the nine points of a river with seven pieces a side. It shares an ancestry with chess, but two rules set it apart: a piece may not move into check, and the cannon captures by jumping exactly one piece.
The goal: checkmate or stalemate the enemy general. The side whose general is captured loses.
Rules
- The board is 9 files by 10 ranks, split by a river in the middle
- Red moves first, then players alternate
- The general moves one point orthogonally and must stay inside its own palace
- Your general may never be left in check — and you may not move into check
- The chariot moves any distance in a straight line; the horse moves one point then one diagonally, and a leg can block it
- The cannon moves like a chariot for normal moves, but captures by jumping exactly one intervening piece
- A side with no legal move loses; if its general is captured the game ends immediately
The two rules that surprise newcomers
Cannon capture
To capture, the cannon jumps over exactly one piece — the screen — and takes the first enemy piece beyond it. Without a screen, the same cannon is a plain mover.
Horse leg
The horse moves one point orthogonally then one diagonally. If the orthogonal step is occupied, the diagonal leg is blocked and the move is illegal.
Facing generals
Two generals may not face each other on an open file with nothing between them. It is treated as an illegal position.
Strategy
1. Keep the two generals apart
Open files between the generals let either side capture instantly. Most losses come from a file left open by an unnecessary piece move.
2. Chariots before everything
The chariot is the only piece that can threaten both halves of the board. Two chariots usually beat one chariot plus two cannons.
3. Use the cannon as a mobile screen
A cannon parked behind a pawn can suddenly take the piece in front of it. Screens are how you turn a passive position into a threat.
4. Push a pawn to force a reply
A pawn one step from the far rank cannot be stopped, and its promotion threat often generates the only forcing line you have.
Playing here
Modes on BoardDuel: vs AI — play a live engine at three difficulty levels; Pass & play — two players, one screen; Friend room — share a six-character code and play remotely.
FAQ
Can the generals face each other?
No. Two generals on the same file with nothing between them is an illegal position — the side that created it loses immediately, so you must block or move.
Is checkmate required, or is capturing the general enough?
Capturing the general ends the game at once. In practice a general is rarely captured, because leaving it capturable is itself illegal — most games end by checkmate or stalemate.
What is a perpetual check?
Checking the same general over and over to avoid losing. Rules for repetition limits vary, so repeated checks are usually drawn in friendly play.