---
title: "Xiangqi Piece Values: What Each Piece Is Worth · Xiangqi Master"
description: "A working table of xiangqi piece values, and the three situations where the numbers stop being true: the crossed soldier, the fading cannon and the missing advisor."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/learn/piece-values
updated: 2026-09-07
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# What the pieces are worth

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
>
> A common scale is chariot 9, cannon 4.5, horse 4, soldier 1 before the river and 2 after it, advisor 2 and elephant 2. The numbers are a starting point rather than a rule. A soldier doubles in value when it crosses the river, a cannon loses value as the board empties, and an advisor is worth more than its number in the endgame.

## The working numbers

| Piece | Chinese | Value | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chariot | 俥 / 車 | 9 | The strongest piece by a wide margin |
| Cannon | 炮 / 砲 | 4.5 | Worth more early, less as pieces leave |
| Horse | 傌 / 馬 | 4 | Worth less early, more as pieces leave |
| Advisor | 仕 / 士 | 2 | Defensive only, decisive in endgames |
| Elephant | 相 / 象 | 2 | Defensive only, never crosses the river |
| Soldier before the river | 兵 / 卒 | 1 | Forward only |
| Soldier after the river | 兵 / 卒 | 2 | Gains sideways movement |

One chariot is worth roughly two horses, and roughly a horse and a cannon. That single comparison decides more trades than any other.

## The three times the numbers stop being true

- **A soldier that crosses the river.** It gains sideways movement and doubles in value. Three crossed soldiers are a serious attacking force, and the same three soldiers on their own side are almost nothing.
- **A cannon as the board empties.** A cannon needs a screen to capture, so it weakens with every trade. Late in the game a horse is usually worth more than a cannon, which reverses their opening order.
- **An advisor when the attack arrives.** Two advisors hold positions that one advisor loses, so the second advisor is worth far more than the first. Giving up a soldier to remove one is often a good trade.

## Using values over the board

Count material, then count the defence separately. Equal material with a broken defensive structure is often losing, and that will not show up in the totals.

The other habit worth building is to ask what a piece is doing rather than what it is worth. A chariot with no open file is not worth nine, and a horse planted in front of the enemy palace is worth more than four.

## Common mistakes

#### Trading a chariot for a horse and a cannon happily

It is roughly level on paper and often bad in practice, because two pieces need time to coordinate and a chariot does not.

#### Treating all soldiers alike

A crossed soldier is worth about twice an uncrossed one. Count them separately.

#### Ignoring advisors in the count

The defensive structure decides endgames. An extra soldier does not compensate for a missing advisor.

## Related questions

What is the most valuable piece in xiangqi?

The chariot, by a clear margin. It is worth roughly two horses. See [how the chariot moves](https://xiangqimaster.com/rules/how-the-chariot-moves).

Is a cannon worth more than a horse?

Early yes, late no. The cannon needs a screen to capture, so it fades as the board empties, while the horse gains freedom. See [horse endgames](https://xiangqimaster.com/endgames/horse-endgames).

How much is a soldier worth in xiangqi?

About one before it crosses the river and about two after, because crossing gives it sideways movement. A soldier that reaches the enemy palace can be worth far more than that.

## Related xiangqi resources

Advisors and elephants

Why the defence is worth counting

How the soldier moves

And what changes at the river

Common mistakes

Including bad trades

## Put it into practice

Play a game against the computer or a real opponent. It is free, it starts instantly, and there is nothing to install.