---
title: "Winning With a Crossed Soldier in Xiangqi · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Push it toward the palace, not the edge, and support it. A soldier covering one palace point turns a check into a checkmate."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/how-do-you-win-with-a-crossed-soldier
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# How do you win with a crossed soldier in the endgame?

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
>
> **Push it toward the palace** and give it support. A crossed soldier is worth about double an uncrossed one because it moves sideways, and a soldier standing in the enemy palace covering **one escape point** is frequently what turns another piece's check into checkmate.

## Direction matters more than speed

A soldier on the last rank in a corner can only shuffle sideways and is effectively dead. The same soldier two files inward may be a mating piece. Since soldiers never move backwards, this choice is permanent — decide before you push.

## Support it

A soldier that steps next to the enemy general undefended simply gets eaten, because the general captures on adjacent palace points. Bring a chariot or horse to cover it first; an unsupported invasion achieves nothing.

## Related questions

Can a soldier and general beat a bare general?

With accurate play, yes. The soldier alone cannot.

Is a crossed soldier worth more than an advisor?

Near the enemy palace it can be. In a defensive endgame the advisor is usually worth more.

## Related xiangqi resources

Soldier endgames

Why a crossed soldier is worth double

How the soldier moves

Forward only, until it crosses the river

Basic checkmates

Mating with ordinary material

## Try it on a real board

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