General & guards
The general and guards move one step along marked lines inside their own palace, including diagonals.
Janggi
Korea's relative of Xiangqi. No river, diagonal palace paths, and cannons that always jump over one piece.
No one is playing yet0 waiting rooms
Chariot
Move in straight lines, including marked palace diagonals.
Cannon
The cannon must jump exactly one non-cannon piece, even without capturing. It cannot capture another cannon.
Horse
One orthogonal step then one diagonal; the first step can be blocked.
Elephant
One orthogonal step then two diagonal steps, if the path is clear.
Soldier
The soldier moves one point forward or sideways, never backward. In the enemy palace it may also move diagonally forward along marked lines.
Read the full guide
Board setup, special rules and winning conditions for Janggi.
Choose your horse and elephant formation before playing. Han receives 1.5 compensation points; a pass is allowed when not in check.
A quick guide to Janggi
Read the Janggi rulesWhat is Janggi?
Janggi is Korean chess for two players on 9×10 intersections. Palace diagonals, passing and cannon screens distinguish it from Xiangqi. On ChessPlayX, accepted bikjang, two passes in a row and a third repetition are decided on material points (chariot 13, cannon 7, horse 5, elephant and guard 3, soldier 2), with Han receiving 1.5 extra points.
How is Janggi different from Xiangqi?
Janggi has no river limit, so elephants roam the whole board and move one step straight then two diagonally. Generals start in the palace centre, palace diagonals can be used, cannons must always jump exactly one non-cannon piece, you may pass when not in check, and each side picks its horse and elephant setup.
What is bikjang in Janggi?
Bikjang is when the two generals face each other on an open file. It is not check. The next player must break the face-off or pass; a pass ends the game on points: chariot 13, cannon 7, horse 5, elephant 3, guard 3, soldier 2, with Han adding 1.5, so there is no tie.
Can a cannon capture another cannon in Janggi?
No. A Janggi cannon can never capture a cannon, and it cannot use a cannon as its screen. It must jump exactly one other piece on every move, even without capturing, so with no screen it cannot move at all. Inside a palace it may also jump diagonally over a piece on the centre point.
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 Janggi on one deviceWhich rules apply here?
Janggi · ChessPlayX online rules: bikjang, passes and repetition decided on points. 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 Janggi 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.