How to play xiangqi (Chinese chess)
Every position, move and legality claim on this page is verified programmatically against our open rules engine, which implements the WXF laws and is tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook.
Direct answer
Xiangqi is played on a 9×10 grid of intersections split by a river, with a nine-point palace at each end. Each side has 16 pieces and Red moves first. You win by checkmating the enemy general — or by leaving your opponent with no legal move at all, which in xiangqi is also a loss for them rather than a draw.
The goal
Checkmate the enemy general. That is the whole objective, and the two ways to achieve it are:
- Checkmate (将死) — the general is attacked and there is no legal way to answer.
- Stalemate (困毙) — your opponent has no legal move at all. Unlike western chess, this is a win for you.
Games can also be drawn by agreement, by insufficient material, or by 60 moves without a capture.
The board
Set the board up like this. Note that the pieces sit on the intersections of the lines, not inside the squares — the single most common mistake when setting up for the first time.
Three regions matter: the river across the middle, and the two palaces, the three-by-three areas marked with a diagonal cross at each end.
The starting position. Red moves first — try moving a soldier or a horse.
Xiangqi position. Red: soldier a3, soldier c3, soldier e3, soldier g3, soldier i3, cannon b2, cannon h2, chariot a0, horse b0, elephant c0, advisor d0, general e0, advisor f0, elephant g0, horse h0, chariot i0. Black: chariot a9, horse b9, elephant c9, advisor d9, general e9, advisor f9, elephant g9, horse h9, chariot i9, cannon b7, cannon h7, soldier a6, soldier c6, soldier e6, soldier g6, soldier i6. Red to move.
The seven pieces
| Piece | Chinese | How it moves |
|---|---|---|
| General | 帥 / 將 | One point orthogonally; never leaves the palace |
| Advisor | 仕 / 士 | One point diagonally; never leaves the palace |
| Elephant | 相 / 象 | Exactly two points diagonally; never crosses the river; blockable |
| Horse | 傌 / 馬 | One orthogonally then one diagonally; cannot jump |
| Chariot | 俥 / 車 | Any distance along a rank or file, like a rook |
| Cannon | 炮 / 砲 | Moves like a chariot; captures only by jumping exactly one piece |
| Soldier | 兵 / 卒 | One point forward; sideways too once it has crossed the river |
Learn the cannon and the horse first. They are the two pieces with no western equivalent, and nearly every beginner's blunder involves one of them.
Three rules that catch chess players
- The horse does not jump. A single piece beside it blocks that whole direction. See it demonstrated →
- The generals may never face each other down an open file. This freezes pieces between them completely, and wins games. The flying general rule →
- Stalemate loses, and perpetual check loses. Both chess reflexes for saving a bad position do the opposite here. Repetition, explained →
Your first game
Three things to do, and one not to:
- Get your chariots out. The most common cause of a lost game at beginner level is a chariot that never moved.
- Give your horses room. A horse behind its own soldiers is doing nothing.
- Watch the central file. Most attacks come straight down it, usually from a cannon.
- Do not move soldiers for space. Each advance is permanent and opens lines toward your own camp.
Then play. Losing quickly and often is the fastest route to understanding, and the computer at level one is a patient opponent.
Related questions
How do you win at xiangqi?
By checkmating the enemy general, or by leaving your opponent with no legal move — both are wins. Games can also be drawn by agreement, by insufficient material, or after 60 moves without a capture.
Is xiangqi hard to learn?
The rules take about ten minutes. The two that need real attention are the cannon's screen capture and the horse's blocking, because neither has a western equivalent.
Who moves first in xiangqi?
Red always moves first.
Can I play xiangqi online for free?
Yes. Xiangqi Master is free to play against both the computer and real opponents, with no download.