Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)

Xiangqi, often called Chinese chess, is a two-player battle between Red and Black armies. Like Western chess, the goal is to trap the enemy leader, here called the general, but the board, pieces and several rules differ. Play Chinese chess online free in your browser against the computer on three levels, or a friend on the same device, with no download or sign-up.

The board

The board has 9 files and 10 ranks, and the pieces stand on the intersections, not inside squares. A river crosses the middle of the board. Each side also has a palace: the 3×3 zone marked with an X in the middle of its back ranks. Red moves first, and the two sides then take turns, one move each.

How the pieces move

• General (帥 / 將): one point straight in any direction, never leaving the palace. The two generals may never face each other on the same file with no pieces in between. This is the flying-general rule.
• Advisor (仕 / 士): one point diagonally, also inside the palace only.
• Elephant (相 / 象): exactly two points diagonally. It cannot cross the river, and it is blocked if any piece stands on the point in between, known as the elephant’s eye.
• Horse (傌 / 馬): one point straight, then one point diagonally outward. If a piece sits on the point right next to the horse in the direction it wants to go, that move is blocked.
• Chariot (俥 / 車): any distance in a straight line, like a rook in Western chess.
• Cannon (炮 / 砲): moves like a chariot, but captures only by jumping over exactly one piece, called the screen, of either color, to land on the enemy piece behind it.
• Soldier (兵 / 卒): one point forward. Once it crosses the river it can also step sideways. It never moves backward.

Winning, check and draws

A general that is attacked is in check, and you must answer it at once. The game marks the attacked general in red and only allows moves that end the check. Checkmate wins. Unlike Western chess, stalemate also wins here: if the side to move has no legal move at all, that side loses, which is the real xiangqi rule.

The official rules against perpetual check and perpetual chasing are complex, so this version simplifies them. A game is drawn when the same position appears three times, or after 60 moves each without a capture. You can also resign, which takes a second click to confirm.

Modes and features

• vs Computer: Easy makes loose moves and suits learning. Medium looks a few moves ahead, and Hard searches deeper, taking about a second per move. Play Red or Black. As Black, the board turns so your pieces are at the bottom.
• 2 Players: take turns on one phone, tablet or laptop.
• Show moves: tap a piece and every point it can legally reach is marked, with rings on pieces it can capture.
• Letters: swap the Chinese characters for letters: K general, A advisor, E elephant, H horse, R chariot, C cannon and P soldier.
• Move list and file numbers: moves are written in standard notation, such as C2=5 for a cannon moving from file 2 to file 5. Each side counts files 1 to 9 from its own right, and File numbers shows them on the board.
• Undo, last move and captures: Undo takes back your move and the computer’s reply. The last move is highlighted, and captured pieces line up above and below the board.

Your wins, losses and draws against each computer level are saved in your browser, and an unfinished game can be continued later.

Tips for beginners

• Open with the central cannon. Moving a cannon to the middle file, aimed at the enemy general, is the most popular first move.
• Get your chariots out. They do little in the corners.
• Watch for hobbled horses. A horse with pieces next to it may have no moves at all.
• Mind the screen. A cannon needs exactly one piece between it and its target.

FAQ

Is this Chinese chess game free?

Yes. There is no account and nothing to install, on desktop, Chromebook, tablet or phone.

How is xiangqi different from chess?

Pieces sit on intersections, the board has a river and palaces, the cannon captures by jumping, there is no castling or promotion, and stalemate is a win for the player who caused it.

Why can’t my piece move there?

The status line explains it. Common reasons are a hobbled horse, a blocked elephant eye, leaving your general in check or letting the two generals face each other.

Like strategy board games? Try Western Chess, or Shogi, the Japanese game where captured pieces return to the board on your side.