Xiangqi: Rules and How to Play
Xiangqi is a 25-minute board game for 2. Move seven kinds of pieces across a 9×10 board and checkmate the opposing general. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Setup
- 2 players. On your own, play against the computer.
- Each side places 16 pieces on the intersections of a board with 9 files and 10 ranks. Red moves first.
- The two sides write some pieces differently: Red uses 帥 仕 相 炮 兵 and Black uses 將 士 象 砲 卒 for the general, advisor, elephant, cannon and soldier (車 chariot and 馬 horse are the same).
How to play
- A chariot slides along ranks and files. A horse moves one step orthogonally and then one diagonally. A cannon slides like a chariot when it is not capturing.
- To capture, a cannon must jump exactly one intervening piece. A horse cannot move in a direction when the first orthogonal step is occupied.
- A general moves one step orthogonally inside the palace; an advisor moves one step diagonally inside it; an elephant moves two points diagonally, cannot jump an occupied midpoint, and cannot cross the river.
- A soldier moves one step forward. After crossing the river it may also move one step sideways, but never backward.
- You may not leave your general open to capture or leave the two generals facing each other on an open file.
Winning and scoring
- Check the opposing general so that no legal reply exists to win by checkmate.
- You also win when the opponent has no legal move, even if the general is not in check.
- On this site, the third occurrence of the same position is a draw. A player may also resign.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show legal moves | Selecting a piece marks every legal destination on the board. | On | Can be changed |
| Swap first player on rematch | Play again switches who controls Red and moves first. | On | Can be changed |
| Move limit | End a long game as a draw after this many moves. Choose none to disable the limit. | 300 moves | Can be changed |
Terms
- Palace
- The 3×3 crossed box in the centre of each back area. Generals and advisors never leave it.
- River
- The open band across the middle. Elephants cannot cross it; soldiers gain a sideways move after crossing.
- Horse leg
- The first orthogonal step of a horse's move. A piece there blocks both moves in that direction.
- Elephant eye
- The midpoint of an elephant's diagonal move. A piece there blocks the elephant.
- Flying general
- The two generals may not face one another on the same open file.
- Stalemate
- Having no legal move while not in check. In Xiangqi, the player with no move loses.
FAQ
Who moves first?
Red moves first.
What if I have no move but am not in check?
That is stalemate, and the player with no move loses.
What happens on repetition?
On this site, the third occurrence of the same position is a draw.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-09-19 · Run by Qdan, Inc.