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World Xiangqi Rules · 2018

Touch-move and handling pieces at the board

Touching a piece during your turn can commit you to moving or capturing it when a legal move exists. Article 4.2 treats touching your own piece, your opponent's piece and both pieces separately. Intent, order and legal availability matter.

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Quick answer

Before your hand leaves the piece

  1. If you need to adjust a piece, announce the adjustment first using the procedure in Article 4.2.
  2. If you deliberately touch your own piece, examine its legal moves. The touch does not authorise an illegal move.
  3. If you touch an opponent's piece to capture it, check whether a legal capture exists.
  4. If both sides' pieces were touched, preserve the order of contact for the arbiter. Do not quietly substitute another move.

Correct distinction

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Correct distinction
SituationWhat to check
Adjusting a displaced pieceWas the intention announced first?
Touching one's own pieceCan that piece legally move?
Touching an opponent's pieceCan that piece legally be captured?
Releasing a moveApply Article 4.3, not a casual takeback agreement

Arbiter's view

Describe what was touched and in which order, rather than starting with a penalty demand. The English text of 4.2.E contains an unclear cross-reference, “1.3.2D”; this guide does not silently replace it with a guessed rule. Ask the arbiter to apply the official text and event regulations to that case.

FAQ

Is clicking a piece on this website the same as tournament touch-move?

No. The explorer lets you select pieces to study legal moves. Physical competition procedures in Article 4 are a separate subject.

Source and scope

According to World XiangQi Rules · World Xiangqi Federation · 2018. Article 2.10.D; 4.2–4.4.

These guides explain the WXF 2018 rules. They do not replace the official rules or the regulations of your event.

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