What do the beginner lessons on this site actually cover, and in what order?
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
The structured lessons move through the game in the same order this site's own advice consistently recommends: the seven piece movements first, then basic checkmates, then core tactical patterns, and opening principles only once those fundamentals are solid, rather than first.
Why the lessons follow this specific order
It mirrors the answer given at what to learn first in xiangqi: rules before mates, mates before tactics, tactics before openings, because each stage is what makes the next one useful rather than abstract. Jumping straight to opening theory without this foundation is the single most common mistake the lessons are built to prevent.
How to use them alongside actual play
The lessons work best paired with real games rather than completed end to end before playing anything. Play the computer between lesson sections, and let a loss send you back to whichever lesson explains what went wrong, rather than treating the lessons and your own games as two separate, unrelated activities.
Related questions
Do I need to finish the lessons before playing a real game?
No. Play from the very first lesson onward; the two are meant to reinforce each other, not happen in strict sequence.
Are the lessons different from the puzzles?
Yes, lessons teach concepts and rules in order; puzzles are focused tactical repetition once you have the underlying ideas.
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