---
title: "ICCS Notation: The Coordinate Format Engines Use · Xiangqi Master"
description: "ICCS writes a move as a start point and an end point on a lettered, numbered grid, such as b2e2. Most xiangqi engines use it instead of WXF."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/what-is-iccs-notation
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# What is ICCS notation in xiangqi?

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
>
> **ICCS notation names a move by its two endpoints** rather than by piece and direction. Files run a to i and ranks 0 to 9, so a move might be written `b2e2`: from the point at file b, rank 2, to the point at file e, rank 2. It is the format most xiangqi engine protocols exchange moves in, playing the same role UCI coordinates play in chess.

## Why engines prefer coordinates

Descriptive notation like 炮二平五 or WXF's C2=5 depends on knowing which piece stands where before the move makes sense. A coordinate pair does not: it names two points on a fixed grid, and a program can validate or generate it without first resolving "which piece is on file two." That is a much simpler contract between two pieces of software.

## Reading one by hand

You will rarely need to, but if a tool shows you a raw move like `h2e2`, treat it as "pick up whatever sits at h2, put it down at e2" rather than trying to name the piece from the letters. Converting it to [readable notation](https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/how-do-you-read-xiangqi-notation) means knowing what was on the start square, which the coordinate alone does not tell you.

## Related questions

Do I need to learn ICCS to play here?

No. It is a format for programs talking to programs. Everything a player reads on this site is in WXF or Chinese notation.

Is it standardised across engines?

The grid and letter/number scheme are consistent enough between major engines that conversion between them is mechanical, though implementations vary in the small print.

## Related xiangqi resources

Reading notation

炮二平五 and C2=5 — the same move, two ways

Analyse your games

Take any position apart with engine support

Editorial standards

How these answers are checked

## Try it on a real board

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