How to play Janggi: rules and setup

Each side has sixteen pieces. The general starts in the centre of its palace. Han chooses the horse/elephant arrangement first; Cho then chooses. There is no river, so elephants can cross the whole board.

• 漢

  General & guards

  The general and guards move one step along marked lines inside their own palace, including diagonals.

• 車

  Chariot

  Move in straight lines, including marked palace diagonals.

• 包

  Cannon

  The cannon must jump exactly one non-cannon piece, even without capturing. It cannot capture another cannon.

• 馬

  Horse

  One orthogonal step then one diagonal; the first step can be blocked.

• 象

  Elephant

  One orthogonal step then two diagonal steps, if the path is clear.

• 兵

  Soldier

  The soldier moves one point forward or sideways, never backward. In the enemy palace it may also move diagonally forward along marked lines.

Generals and guards follow palace lines. Chariots can use palace diagonals. Horses and elephants have blocking points. Cannons need a non-cannon screen even for a quiet move, and cannot capture another cannon.

You may pass instead of moving unless you are in check. If the two generals face each other on an open file (bikjang), the next player must break it or pass; passing ends the game on points. The game also ends on points after two passes in a row, or when the same position occurs a third time. Points: chariot 13, cannon 7, horse 5, elephant 3, guard 3, soldier 2; Han adds 1.5, so there are no ties. If one side checked on every move of the repetition, that side loses instead. These are ChessPlayX online rules: Korea Janggi Association tournament rules allow bikjang and repetition only while both sides have fewer than 30 points.

Check palace diagonals and cannon screens before moving. A clear line is enough for a chariot, but never enough by itself for a cannon move.