Quick answer
Read the board before choosing a move
The files are numbered from each player's right. The same physical file therefore has a different number for Red and Black. The palace is the three-by-three area marked with diagonals. An Elephant cannot cross the river; a Pawn gains sideways movement after crossing it but never moves backward.
Use the piece explorer above to select a piece and try its highlighted destinations. These are teaching positions, not a claim that every pictured arrangement occurs at the start of a game.
Seven movement patterns
Scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| Piece | Movement | Constraint |
|---|---|---|
| King (K) | One intersection orthogonally | Stays in the palace; Kings may not face each other on an open file |
| Advisor (A) | One step diagonally | Stays in the palace |
| Elephant (E) | Two steps diagonally | Cannot cross the river or jump a blocked eye |
| Horse (H) | One orthogonal step then one diagonal | A blocked leg stops the move |
| Chariot (R) | Along a rank or file | Cannot jump intervening pieces |
| Cannon (C) | Moves like a Chariot | Captures over exactly one intervening piece |
| Pawn (P) | One step forward | May also move sideways after crossing the river |
Try a useful comparison
A Cannon can cross an empty line without a screen when it is not capturing. To capture, it needs exactly one screen, of either colour. A Horse does not jump like a chess Knight: the first orthogonal intersection matters.
FAQ
Can a Pawn turn back after crossing the river?
No. Crossing adds sideways moves; it does not add backward movement or promotion (Article 2.8).
Do the Kings capture each other during normal play?
The facing-Kings restriction makes such an exposed position illegal. Do not interpret the long file as permission to leave your own King in danger.
Related topics
Source and scope
According to World XiangQi Rules · World Xiangqi Federation · 2018. Article 1–2.
These guides explain the WXF 2018 rules. They do not replace the official rules or the regulations of your event.