How do I read a xiangqi position I'm looking at for the first 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
Find both generals first. Once you know where they are, check whether either is currently in check, then take a rough material count. Those three facts, where the kings are, who if anyone is in check, and roughly who has more, tell you almost everything you need before trying to judge anything subtler.
Why this order and not something else
A position where a general is in check demands an immediate answer before anything else matters, so checking for that first avoids wasted effort thinking about plans that a forced reply will make irrelevant. Material comes next because it is the single biggest factor in who is likely doing well, even though it is not the only one.
What to look at after those three basics
Which side has pieces actively placed near the enemy palace, whether either side's advisors and elephants are still intact for defence, and which cannons have a piece one square in front of their target rather than a clear line to nothing. These take longer to read fluently, and that fluency comes from playing games, not from memorising a checklist.
Related questions
Is there a fast way to tell whose move it is from a diagram alone?
Not from the position alone in most cases; game records and software both state it explicitly, which is worth relying on rather than guessing.
Should I try to read a position instantly, like a stronger player seems to?
That speed comes from experience with thousands of positions. Early on, taking real time to work through the basics deliberately is exactly how that speed eventually develops.
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