Why won't my piece move where I want it to 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
Almost always one of five: the horse's leg is blocked, the elephant's eye is blocked, the cannon has no screen (or two), the piece is a general or advisor trying to leave the palace, or the move would expose your general to the enemy general down an open file.
The five, in detail
- Blocked horse. A piece on the point the horse steps through stops it. Not the landing point — the one in between.
- Blocked elephant. Same idea: a piece on the midpoint of its two-step diagonal (the 象眼) stops it.
- Cannon with no screen. To capture it needs exactly one piece in between. Zero or two, and the capture is illegal.
- Palace limits. Generals and advisors never leave the nine points. Elephants never cross the river.
- Flying general. Any move leaving the two generals facing each other on a clear file is illegal, including moving the piece that was between them.
The one that catches everyone
The last one. A piece sitting between the two generals is completely frozen, however many moves it appears to have. If a board refuses a move that looks obviously legal, check whether that piece is the only thing keeping the generals apart.
Related questions
Can a horse jump over pieces?
No, never. This is the biggest difference from the chess knight.
Can a cannon move without a screen?
Yes — moving is unrestricted along a clear line. The screen is required only to capture. See how the cannon moves.
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