Can a soldier give check in xiangqi?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
Yes. A soldier attacks the point directly in front of it, and — once across the river — the points to either side as well. A crossed soldier standing beside or in front of the general is giving check, and a soldier inside the enemy palace is one of the most dangerous pieces on the board.
Why a soldier in the palace is so strong
It attacks a palace point that the general needs, it cannot be driven away by attacking it (it is worth almost nothing), and it can only be dealt with by capturing it — which often means moving a defender away from somewhere it was needed.
Several standard mates are chariot-plus-soldier, where the soldier covers exactly one escape point and the chariot does the rest.
Getting one there
Push soldiers toward the palace, not toward the edge. A soldier on the last rank in a corner can only shuffle sideways and is effectively dead, while the same soldier two files inward may be a mating piece.
Related questions
Can an uncrossed soldier give check?
Only from directly in front, and it would have to be deep in enemy territory — which means it has crossed. In practice checks come from crossed soldiers.
Can the general capture a checking soldier?
Yes, if it is adjacent and undefended. Which is why attacking soldiers need support.
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