Xiangqi questions, answered

One question per page, answered in the first paragraph. The rules these answers rest on are the WXF laws implemented by the open-source engine this site runs on, and every position they refer to is demonstrated on the reference page it links to, where the build checks it move by move.

Getting started · 44

The questions people ask in their first week: what the game is, what the board is, and what to do first.

All getting started questionsBeginner questions about xiangqi (Chinese chess): what it is, how to set up, and what to learn first. What is xiangqi?Xiangqi (象棋) is Chinese chess: a two-player strategy game on a 9×10 board, played on the intersections, with a river, a palace and a cannon that captures by jumping. How do you pronounce xiangqi?Xiangqi is pronounced roughly shyahng-chee: 'xiang' rhymes with 'young' with an sh- sound, and 'qi' is 'chee', not 'kee' or 'zhee'. How do you play xiangqi as a complete beginner?Set up 32 pieces on the intersections, Red moves first, and checkmate the opposing general. The fastest way in is to learn the seven pieces and play immediately. How many pieces are there in xiangqi?Xiangqi has 32 pieces, 16 per side: one general, two advisors, two elephants, two horses, two chariots, two cannons and five soldiers. How many intersections are on a xiangqi board?A xiangqi board has 90 intersections: nine files by ten ranks. Pieces stand on the intersections, not inside the squares.

Rules and legality · 42

Is this move legal? These are the questions where the rules of xiangqi differ from every other chess-family game, which is where almost all the confusion lives.

All rules and legality questionsIs that move legal in xiangqi? Answers to the rules questions that decide real games, from the WXF laws our engine implements. Can the general leave the palace in xiangqi?No. The general is confined to the nine points of its palace for the entire game, and so are both advisors. Can the two generals face each other in xiangqi?No. The flying general rule forbids the two generals from standing on the same file with nothing between them, and any move creating it is illegal. Can a horse jump over pieces in xiangqi?No. The xiangqi horse never jumps. A piece on the point it steps through blocks the move entirely, which is the biggest difference from the chess knight. Can the elephant cross the river in xiangqi?No. The elephant can never cross the river under any circumstances, which makes it a purely defensive piece with only seven reachable points. Can a soldier move backwards in xiangqi?No. Soldiers never move backwards. Before the river they move only forward; after crossing they add sideways movement but still cannot retreat.

How the pieces move · 42

Seven piece types, four of which have no equivalent in western chess. One question per piece behaviour, answered exactly.

All how the pieces move questionsHow each xiangqi piece moves and captures, including the blocked horse, the blocked elephant and the cannon's screen. How does the horse move in xiangqi?The horse moves one point orthogonally then one diagonally outward, and is blocked by any piece on that first orthogonal point. How does the cannon move in xiangqi?The cannon moves like a chariot along clear lines, but captures only by jumping exactly one piece of either colour. How does the chariot move in xiangqi?The chariot moves any number of points along a clear rank or file and captures the first enemy piece it meets — identical to a chess rook. How does the elephant move in xiangqi?The elephant moves exactly two points diagonally, is blocked at the midpoint, and can never cross the river — seven points in total. How does the advisor move in xiangqi?The advisor moves one point diagonally and never leaves the palace, so it can only ever reach five points.

The cannon · 32

The cannon is the piece that makes xiangqi its own game, and the piece that generates the most questions. It moves like a chariot and captures like nothing else on any board.

All the cannon questionsEverything about the xiangqi cannon: the screen rule, what counts as a screen, cannon mates, and why a lone cannon cannot win. What counts as a screen for a cannon?Any single piece of either colour, of any type, standing between the cannon and its target. Exactly one is required — no more, no fewer. Why can't a lone cannon checkmate?Against a bare general in an empty palace there is nothing to jump over, so a lone cannon cannot even give check, let alone mate. What is the Central Cannon in xiangqi?The Central Cannon is 炮二平五, moving a cannon to the central file to attack the opposing general through the central soldiers. How do you defend against a cannon in xiangqi?Remove the screen, add a second one, block the line, or capture the cannon. Removing the screen is the answer most players overlook. What is 馬後炮 (horse behind cannon)?馬後炮 is the classic mate: a horse in front of the general with a cannon behind it on the same line, using the horse as its screen.

The general and the palace · 27

The general never leaves nine points, and the two generals may never see each other. Both facts decide more games than any tactic.

All the general and the palace questionsQuestions about the xiangqi general: the palace, the flying general rule, check, and why your own general is an attacking piece. What is the flying general rule?The two generals may never stand on the same file with an empty line between them. Any move creating that position is illegal. How do you escape a flying general pin?Move your own general off the file, or add a second piece to the line. Both make the pinned piece no longer the only thing between the generals. Why is my own general called an attacking piece?Because the flying general rule means your general denies the enemy general the whole file it stands on — a free attacker in every bare endgame. Why do my own advisors help checkmate me?Advisors occupy palace points. If they sit on the points the general needs to escape to, they turn a check into a checkmate. How many points can the general reach in xiangqi?Nine — the points of its own palace — for the entire game. It moves one point orthogonally and never leaves.

Draws and repetition · 24

Xiangqi does not draw by threefold repetition. It adjudicates, and the adjudication rules are the part of the game most descriptions get wrong.

All draws and repetition questionsHow xiangqi draws work: perpetual check, perpetual chase, the sixty-move rule, and who is required to vary. Is perpetual check a draw in xiangqi?No. In xiangqi the player giving perpetual check must vary, and loses the game if they refuse. It is adjudicated, not drawn. What is perpetual chase in xiangqi?Perpetual chase is repeatedly threatening to capture the same piece to force a repetition. Like perpetual check, the chaser must vary. How do xiangqi games end in a draw?By agreement, by insufficient material, after sixty moves without a capture, or where both sides are equally at fault under the repetition laws. What is the 110-diagram repetition casebook?It is the official collection of worked examples that settles how repetition positions are judged, and the reference our engine is tested against. What happens if I repeat moves in xiangqi?Ordinary repetition where neither side is checking or chasing is a draw. If you are the one checking or chasing, you must vary or lose.

Notation and reading games · 22

炮二平五 and C2=5 are the same move. Both systems are here, including the parts that trip people up: which side counts files from where, and what happens with two pieces on one file.

All notation and reading games questionsHow to read xiangqi notation, in Chinese and in WXF: files, directions, and the tandem-piece rules. How do you read xiangqi notation?A move names the piece, the file it is on, a direction, and a destination — 炮二平五 or C2=5 are the same move written two ways. What does 炮二平五 mean?炮二平五 means 'cannon on file two traverses to file five' — the Central Cannon, the most played first move in xiangqi. What do the letters in WXF notation stand for?K general, A advisor, E elephant, H horse, R chariot, C cannon, P soldier — the seven piece letters in WXF xiangqi notation. How do you write a move when two pieces are on the same file?The file number is replaced by 前 (front) or 後 (rear) in Chinese, or + and − in WXF, to say which of the two pieces moves. Why does xiangqi notation count files from the right?Each player numbers files from their own right, so the same physical file has two numbers. It keeps every move written from the mover's perspective.

Openings · 33

What to play on move one, what the named systems are, and how much of any of it is worth memorising.

All openings questionsXiangqi opening questions answered: the Central Cannon, Screen Horses, 仙人指路, 飛相局, and how much theory a player actually needs. What is Screen Horses (屏風馬)?屏風馬 is the main defence to the Central Cannon: both horses defend the central soldier, standing side by side like a folding screen. How many xiangqi openings do I need to know?Two — one for Red and one for Black. Two systems played well beat six systems half remembered. What is the Elephant Opening (飛相局)?飛相局 is 相三進五, moving an elephant to the centre of your own half on move one. It defends the central point and avoids sharp theory. What is 仙人指路 (the Pawn Opening)?仙人指路 is 兵七進一, advancing a soldier one point on move one. It opens a horse path, commits to nothing, and waits. What is 順炮 (same direction cannons)?順炮 is when both players put a cannon on the central file from the same side of the board, giving a symmetrical and very sharp game.

Tactics · 33

Forks, pins, discoveries and the named mates. The patterns that decide almost every game below expert level.

All tactics questionsXiangqi tactics explained: pins, forks, discovered attacks, 馬後炮, 重炮, 雙車錯 and the rest of the named mates. What xiangqi tactics should I learn first?The horse fork, the pin, discovered attacks, and the three named mates: 馬後炮, 重炮 and 雙車錯. What is a horse fork in xiangqi?A horse fork attacks two pieces at once from a single point. It is the most common material-winning tactic in the game. What is a discovered attack in xiangqi?Moving one piece so another attacks. With cannons it works backwards: adding a piece to a line creates the attack instead of blocking it. What is the strongest pin in xiangqi?A piece alone between the two generals cannot move at all. Every move it has would expose the generals to each other and is illegal. What is 雙車錯 (the two chariot mate)?雙車錯 is two chariots mating alone: one checks along a line while the other covers the general's escape rank.

Endgames · 33

What beats what. These are the answers that change how you trade, twenty moves before the endgame arrives.

All endgames questionsXiangqi endgame questions: what forces mate, what draws, and why a cannon and a horse swap places in value. What is the minimum material needed to win in xiangqi?A single chariot forces mate against a bare general, with your own general's help. A lone horse or lone cannon cannot. Can a chariot beat two advisors and two elephants?Normally a draw. Remove one advisor and the same chariot usually wins — which is why an advisor is worth more than a soldier. How do you checkmate with a single chariot?Bring your own general up to hold a file, drive the enemy general to the edge of its palace, then cover the remaining points. Why is a horse better than a cannon in the endgame?Fewer pieces means fewer blocked legs for the horse and fewer screens for the cannon. The two swap places in value as the board empties. How do you win with a crossed soldier in the endgame?Push it toward the palace, not the edge, and support it. A soldier covering one palace point turns a check into a checkmate.

Strategy and improvement · 30

What to study, in what order, and the habits that move a rating more than any amount of opening theory.

All strategy and improvement questionsHow to improve at xiangqi: what to study first, how to review your own games, and what actually raises a rating. How do I get better at xiangqi?Learn basic checkmates, then tactics, then endgames, then openings — and review your own losses, which is the part that actually moves a rating. What are the most common beginner mistakes in xiangqi?Attacking with one piece, blocking your own horse, forgetting the cannon needs a screen, and moving advisors without reason. How should I review my xiangqi games?Find the move where the position turned, not the final blunder, and ask what you failed to look at. Use an engine second, never first. Should I play fast or slow xiangqi games?Play some slow games. Fast games give volume without decisions worth reviewing, and you cannot learn from choices you never made. How do you make a plan in xiangqi?Pick a target in the palace, count how many pieces you can bring to it in three moves, and compare with what the defender can bring back.

Xiangqi and other games · 22

Chess, shogi, janggi and chaturanga are relatives, not the same game. What carries over, and what will actively mislead you.

All xiangqi and other games questionsXiangqi compared with western chess, Japanese shogi, Korean janggi and Indian chaturanga: the real differences. What is the difference between xiangqi and chess?Bigger board played on intersections, a confined general, a cannon that captures by jumping, no promotion or castling, and stalemate loses. Is xiangqi harder than chess?Not harder, differently hard. Xiangqi is sharper and more tactical early; chess has deeper positional play and more theory to learn. What is the difference between xiangqi and janggi?Janggi uses the same board but allows passing, has no river restriction on elephants, a different elephant move, and a general that uses the palace diagonals. What is the difference between xiangqi and shogi?Shogi has drops — captured pieces return as your own — plus promotion and a 9×9 board of squares. Xiangqi has none of these and a cannon instead. How is chaturanga different from xiangqi?Chaturanga is the older Indian game both descend from in part. It has no cannon, no river, no palace, and is played on squares.

History and culture · 22

How old the game is, where it came from, and which of the popular origin stories are actually documented.

All history and culture questionsThe documented history of xiangqi: when it was invented, what the earliest sources say, and which legends are not evidence. When was xiangqi invented?The modern game dates to the Song dynasty, around the 11th–12th century. Earlier games called 象棋 existed but were different games. Who invented xiangqi?No individual invented xiangqi. It developed gradually, and the named inventors in popular stories are legends rather than documented figures. What does 楚河漢界 on the board mean?It means 'Chu river, Han border', referring to the boundary between the kingdoms of Chu and Han after the fall of the Qin dynasty. Why is xiangqi called 'elephant chess'?象 means elephant and 棋 means board game, but the 象 may originally have been 像, meaning figure or image — the etymology is not settled. What are the classic xiangqi books?橘中秘 and 梅花譜 are the best-known opening classics; 夢入神機 and 適情雅趣 are the major historical endgame collections.

Playing and equipment · 26

The practical side: what a set costs, how to read the pieces, how online ratings work, and what is considered rude at the board.

All playing and equipment questionsPractical xiangqi questions: buying a set, reading the characters, clocks, ratings, tournaments and etiquette. How do xiangqi ratings work?Most systems use an Elo-style calculation: you gain points for beating stronger players and lose more for losing to weaker ones. What time controls are used in xiangqi?Online blitz is typically 3+2 or 5+3, rapid 10+5 or 15+10; tournaments use longer main controls with an increment. What should I look for in a xiangqi app or site?Check that it implements the repetition rules properly, offers western piece symbols if you need them, and has real opponents at your level. What is xiangqi etiquette?Slapping pieces is normal, announcing check is not expected, and kibitzing is fine in park play but banned in rated games. How do xiangqi tournaments work?Usually Swiss-system pairings over several rounds, with a clock, an arbiter, and colours allocated so players alternate Red and Black.

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