How to Play Xiangqi (Chinese Chess): Rules in 10 Minutes
Xiangqi (Chinese chess, 象棋) is a two-player strategy game played on a 9×10 board of points and lines. Red moves first. The goal is to checkmate the opponent’s General (将/帥) — trap it so it cannot escape check. Pieces move on intersections (not inside squares), a river divides the board, and each side’s General is confined to a 3×3 palace. Once you know the nine piece types and a few special rules (cannon capture, horse block, flying general), you can play a full game.
What is Xiangqi?
Xiangqi is one of the world’s most popular chess variants, with deep roots in Chinese culture and a huge online player base across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam (cờ tướng), and diaspora communities. It rewards tactics, calculation, and pattern recognition — similar to Western chess, but with different geometry and piece powers.
Board setup
- Board: 9 files × 10 ranks of points connected by lines.
- River (楚河漢界): the horizontal gap in the middle. Soldiers gain power after crossing it.
- Palace (九宮): the 3×3 fortress for each General and Advisors, marked with an X.
- Starting army (each side): 1 General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Horses, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 5 Soldiers.
Place pieces on their standard starting points (mirrors Red and Black). Red is at the bottom of most apps and diagrams.
How each piece moves
| Piece | Chinese | Move | Key restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 将 / 帥 | One point orthogonally | Must stay inside the palace |
| Advisor | 士 / 仕 | One point diagonally | Must stay inside the palace |
| Elephant | 象 / 相 | Exactly two points diagonally | Cannot cross the river; blocked if the midpoint is occupied |
| Horse | 馬 / 傌 | One orthogonal, then one diagonal | Blocked if the orthogonal “leg” square is occupied |
| Chariot | 車 / 俥 | Any distance orthogonally | Like a rook — strongest linear piece |
| Cannon | 炮 / 砲 | Moves like a chariot when not capturing | To capture, must jump exactly one screen piece (any color) |
| Soldier | 卒 / 兵 | Forward one point | After crossing the river, may also move sideways one point; never backward |
Special rules you must know
- Check and checkmate. If your General is attacked, you must escape: move the General, capture the attacker, or interpose (when legal). If you cannot, you lose.
- Flying General (将帅对面). The two Generals may not face each other on an open file with no piece between them. Leaving them face-to-face is illegal (you lose if you create it).
- Perpetual check / chase. Repeated perpetual check or certain perpetual chases can be drawn or ruled against the attacker under competition rules; casual apps often auto-draw after repetition.
- Stalemate. Unlike Western chess, stalemate (no legal move but not in check) is generally a loss for the side that cannot move — confirm the ruleset of the platform you play on.
Your first game — a simple plan
- Develop a Chariot to an open file.
- Advance a central Soldier to open space for Cannons and Horses.
- Castle-style safety: keep the General protected by Advisors; don’t open the palace early.
- Watch Cannon screens and Horse blocks — most beginner blunders come from these two pieces.
How to get better fast
- Start with the interactive Learn sessions on Xiangqi Titans Learn — guided lessons for rules, pieces, and tactics.
- Solve mate-in-1 and mate-in-2 puzzles daily (残局).
- Play short games vs AI, then review mistakes.
- Learn one opening family (e.g. Central Cannon 中炮 vs Screen Horse 屏風馬) before memorizing many lines.
Play and practice free
Ready to try a real board? Open the interactive Learn path, then play a quick AI game, a daily puzzle, or a live match on Xiangqi Titans.
FAQ
Is Xiangqi the same as chess?
No. Xiangqi (Chinese chess) uses a different board, pieces, and rules. Western chess players often learn it quickly, but cannons, the river, and the palace change strategy completely.
Who goes first in Xiangqi?
Red moves first.
What is the goal of Xiangqi?
Checkmate the opponent’s General — or win when the opponent has no legal move under the ruleset you are using.
How long does a Xiangqi game last?
Casual games are often 10–30 minutes. Online platforms also offer Bullet, Blitz, Rapid, and Classical time controls.
Can I play Xiangqi online for free?
Yes. Xiangqi Titans offers free interactive Learn sessions, live matches, AI opponents, and daily puzzles. Start learning at xiangqititans.com/en/learn.