---
title: "How Far Can the General Move in Xiangqi? · Xiangqi Master"
description: "One point at a time, orthogonally, within the palace. There is no long move and no diagonal move for the general."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/can-the-general-move-two-points
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# Can the general move more than one point at a time?

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
>
> **One point, orthogonally, inside the palace** — that is the whole of it. There is no long move, no diagonal, and no special first move. Some variants and some misreadings of the flying general rule suggest the general can shoot down its file; in the standard rules it cannot.

## The flying general misunderstanding

Because the two generals may not face each other on a clear file, people sometimes describe the general as able to "fly" down the file and capture. In the WXF laws it is a **restriction**: the facing position may never be created, by either side. No capture is ever made.

The practical effect is the same — the file is unusable — but it matters when you are working out whether a move is legal.

## Nine points, all game

The general's entire life happens on nine points. That is why attacks in xiangqi are concrete and countable, and why a defender's own advisors so often turn out to be the reason a mate works.

## Related questions

Can the general move diagonally in the palace?

No. The drawn diagonals are the advisor's moves.

Can the general ever be on the same file as the enemy general?

Yes, as long as at least one piece stands between them.

## Related xiangqi resources

How the general moves

One point orthogonally, never leaves the palace

The flying general

Generals may never face each other down an open file

Xiangqi rules

The complete reference, rule by rule

## Try it on a real board

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