Xiangqi FAQ
Short answers to the questions people ask most about xiangqi and about this site. Each links to the page that covers it properly.
Frequently asked questions about xiangqi
What is xiangqi?
Xiangqi (象棋), or Chinese chess, is a two-player strategy game on a 9×10 grid of intersections divided by a river, with a nine-point palace at each end. Each side has 16 pieces and wins by checkmating the enemy general.
Is xiangqi the same as Chinese chess?
Yes. “Xiangqi” is the Mandarin name and “Chinese chess” the usual English description of the same game.
How do you win at xiangqi?
By checkmate, or by leaving your opponent with no legal move — stalemate is a loss in xiangqi, not a draw.
How is xiangqi different from chess?
Pieces sit on intersections; the general and advisors never leave the palace; elephants never cross the river; the cannon captures by jumping a screen; there is no promotion or castling; stalemate loses; and repetition is adjudicated rather than automatically drawn.
Can I play xiangqi online for free?
Yes — here, against the computer or a real opponent, with no download and no payment.
How do I learn xiangqi as a complete beginner?
Start with the board setup, then the beginner's guide, then play. The academy sets out the whole route.
What is the best xiangqi opening?
The Central Cannon is the most popular and the sharpest. For beginners it is also the most instructive, because its plan is direct.
Why is stalemate a loss in xiangqi?
Because the rules define it that way: a player with no legal move is 困毙, “trapped to death”, and loses. It removes a defensive resource that western chess players rely on, and it makes many endgames winnable that would otherwise be drawn.
Is perpetual check a draw?
No — the player giving perpetual check loses. See perpetual check and chase.
Do I need an account?
No. You can play and learn without one. An account adds a rating, saved games and progress tracking.