How do I avoid accidentally leaving my general in check?
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
Before you play a move, take one extra second to check what is left defending your general once that move is made. A move that leaves your own general under attack is illegal, whether you noticed the danger or not, and any digital board will refuse it, but understanding why in advance saves time and helps you actually learn the pattern.
The two ways this usually happens to beginners
- Moving a blocking piece. A piece that happens to sit between an enemy chariot or cannon and your general is doing real work even if nothing marks it as special. Moving it away can expose the general directly.
- The flying general rule. Moving the one piece sitting between the two generals on a shared file exposes your general to the enemy general itself. See the flying general rule.
Why the board catching it is not enough on its own
A refused move on a digital board tells you the move was illegal, but not always why in a way that sticks. Taking the extra second to work out what was defending the general before you touch a piece builds the habit faster than repeatedly bumping into a refusal and moving on.
Related questions
Does this apply to advisors and elephants too?
Indirectly, since they often sit between the general and an attacker, but the illegal-move check is really about the general's safety specifically, whichever piece was providing it.
Can I ever choose to leave my own general in check?
No, never, under any circumstance. It is one of the few absolute rules with no exceptions.
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