Covered piece
Its first move follows the original square's role. It then reveals and moves as its real kind.
Hidden chess
Every reveal opens a possibility. Thirty covered pieces, two visible generals. Read the board and make your own luck.
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General
One point horizontally or vertically, staying inside the palace.
Advisor
Once revealed, moves one point diagonally anywhere on the board, including outside the palace.
Elephant
Once revealed, moves two points diagonally and may cross the river. A blocked midpoint still prevents the move.
Chariot
Any distance horizontally or vertically along a clear line.
Cannon
Moves like a chariot. Captures by jumping over exactly one piece.
Horse
One straight point, then one diagonal. Blocked by an adjacent piece in the first direction.
Soldier
One point forward. After crossing the river, may also move sideways. Never backwards.
Read the full guide
Board setup, special rules and winning conditions for Hidden chess.
The two generals may never face each other on an open file. Win by checkmate or by leaving your opponent without a legal move.
A captured piece that has never been turned stays covered in the captured list and replay. Neither player knows it in advance.
A quick guide to Hidden chess
Read the Hidden chess rulesWhat is Hidden chess?
Cờ úp is Vietnamese hidden Xiangqi on a 9×10 board. The two generals are visible and 30 pieces start covered. A covered piece first moves as its starting-square role, then reveals its identity. This is different from Banqi on a half board.
How does a face-down piece move in Cờ úp?
Its first move follows the piece whose starting square it occupies, with all normal Xiangqi limits, and it gives check the same way. As soon as that move ends it is turned face up, and from your next turn it moves as its real piece. Every cover hides a soldier with odds 5/15.
Can a revealed advisor or elephant leave its zone in Cờ úp?
Yes. Once revealed, an advisor moves one point diagonally anywhere on the board, and an elephant moves two points diagonally and may cross the river, though a piece on its eye still blocks it. The general always stays in its palace, and a revealed soldier steps sideways only after crossing the river.
Is perpetual check punished in Cờ úp?
No. Unlike orthodox Xiangqi, ChessPlayX does not apply WXF perpetual check or chase penalties here. The game is drawn when the same public position occurs for the third time with the same side to move, or after 60 moves by each side without a capture, soldier move or reveal.
How can I play with a friend?
Share one device for a local game, or choose the friend option above to create an online room and send its invitation. Online games need an internet connection. Local games are saved in this browser.
Play Hidden chess on one deviceWhich rules apply here?
Vietnamese hidden chess · ChessPlayX conventions. Read the setup, legal moves, special rules and end conditions before starting. The guide describes the variant used on ChessPlayX, including differences from other versions where relevant.
Read the Hidden chess rulesCan I play against AI?
Choose AI mode to practice at your own pace. Start with a lower difficulty while learning the moves, then increase it when you can spot threats and plan your replies.