Xiangqi rules
Xiangqi is played on the lines of a board divided by a river. Learn what each piece can do, then look for the move that traps the opposing general.
Xiangqi rules
Xiangqi is played on the intersections of nine files and ten ranks. Red moves first. The river separates ranks 5 and 6; each general remains in its 3×3 palace.
Pieces move according to standard Xiangqi rules: chariots move along clear ranks or files; cannons need exactly one screen to capture; horses are blocked by a leg; elephants are blocked by an eye and cannot cross the river; advisors remain in their palace; soldiers gain sideways movement after crossing the river and never retreat. Generals may not face each other on an open file. There is no castling, en-passant capture, or promotion.
A move that leaves your general in check is illegal. The general is never captured: checkmate wins. In Xiangqi, stalemate (having no legal move) also loses. A repeated complete cycle is a draw unless exactly one side gave check on every move in that cycle; that side loses for perpetual check. A game is also drawn after 120 consecutive individual moves without a capture (60 moves by each side). Tournament perpetual-chase rulings depend on the protection and escape status of the chased piece and should be resolved under the event rules; they are not approximated as an automatic threefold draw.
Moves are stored as coordinates (for example h3-e3) and the match view supplies Chinese and international notation generated from the position. Traditional notation uses Chinese numerals for Red and Arabic digits for Black; international notation uses letters and Arabic digits. Traditional character discs are the default; a learner symbol set is available in match settings.